Behind two hat tricks, Villanova (6-6, 1-3) defeated La Salle 8-3 on Sunday afternoon at the Proving Grounds.
 
After a scoreless first quarter, Villanova got on the board in the 18^th minute behind a goal from senior forward Megan Vermeil, assisted by Emma McLaughlin.
 
Lydia Sydnor had the second goal of the day for the Wildcats, scoring off a penalty stroke in the 23^rd minute.
 
The Wildcats went into halftime with a 2-1 lead over the Explorers.
 
The second half proved to be a scoring onslaught for Villanova.
 
Vermeil went on to score two more times in the game, in the 38^th and 50^th minutes, earning a hat trick and bringing her season tally for goals to seven.
 
This was Vermeil's first hat trick since the Wildcats matchup against Lehigh on Sep. 2 of last season.
 
Sydnor scored twice more, once off another penalty stroke and again off a goal in the 45^th minute.
 
The Bryn Mawr, Pa., native, now has 13 goals and five assists this season.
 
Senior forward Abby Siana also tallied a goal off an assist from junior midfielder Riley Dolan in the 38^th minute.
 
In the last scoring play of the game for either team, senior back Christen Pennington took the third penalty stroke for the Wildcats in the 58^th minute and helped make her team three for three off of scoring off of them in the game.
 
Sydnor, as well as sophomore defender Devyn Aschenbach, both recorded defensive saves in the game.
 
Both La Salle and Villanova recorded 19 shots in the matchup.
 
This was the highest scoring game of the season for Villanova, tied with the 8-3 Sept. 13 win over Wagner.
 
The Wildcats now turn their focus to No. 4 UConn, who they host on Friday at 3 p.m.