Williamsburg, Va. - Villanova (1-0) traveled to Virginia on Saturday and left with a 16-12 win over William & Mary (0-1). The Wildcats scored its most goals in a season opener since 2014.
 
The team started hot offensively, scoring nine goals in the first half alone.  
 
Senior attack Liz Trojan scored the first goal of the game just three minutes into play off of freshman midfielder Catherine Field.
 
Despite The Tribe answering with a goal of their own just a minute later, goals by Katie Comerford and senior midfiedler Ashley Lynch put the Wildcats ahead 3-1 six minutes into the game.
 
Junior attack Brittany Bruno scored the next Villanova goal, assisted by Comerford, bringing the score to 4-2.
 
After a goal by William & Mary's Sarah Cipolla, the Wildcats went on to score four goals back-to-back-to-back-to-back, two more from Comerford, one from Bruno and another from junior attack Julianne Puckette, to put the team up 8-3.
 
That was Puckette's, who is a transfer from Lehigh, first goal as a member of Villanova's squad.
 
The Tribe responded, however, scoring three consecutive goals of their own, making the Wildcat's score advantage just two goals with eight minutes until halftime.
 
Sophomore midfielder Libby McKenna had the last goal for Villanova before the half. The Wildcats went into the locker room leading 9-7 with 30 minutes remaining in the game.
 
Less than a minute into the game, Comerford notched a hat trick, scoring an unassisted goal. The next two Villanova goals came from Trojan and Bruno. Bruno was the second Villanova player in the game to have three goals.
 
With a little more than 20 minutes remaining in the game, Rosati scored her second goal of them game to make the score 13-8.
 
After The Tribe scored their ninth goal of the game, Puckette scored two back-to-back goals and recorded the third hat trick of the day for the Wildcats.
 
Rosati scored the last goal of the game, after a three goal run from William & Mary, putting Villanova up 16-12.
 
Wildcat goalkeeper Alexa Moro had a successful opening to her sophomore season. She made 8 saves, four each half.
 
Villanova outshot William & Mary 40-23 in the game. The team finished the day with 32 shots on goal, 23 ground balls and 18 draw controls.
 
The team now travels to Cornell on Feb. 15 for a 1 p.m. matchup with the Bears.