Philadelphia, Pa.- The Villanova Wildcats defeated the Penn Quakers during the first day of the Philly 4 Lacrosse Classic at Franklin Field by a final of 12-10.
Dylan Gergar got the Quakers off to a strong start netting the teams first three goals to put Penn 3-0 at the 8:39 mark of the opening quarter. Robert Schain scored on EMO goal to push their lead to four but the Wildcats started fighting back. Sophomore
Keegan Khan scored two before the end of the first to make it 4-2 Penn.
The second quarter the Wildcat's offense started to take over. First Schain scored his second to put Penn up 5-2 but Villanova answered back.
Colin Crowley netted the first, then Crowley set up McManus at the 11:50 mark to make it a one goal game. It just a few minutes later
Matt Campbell dished it to
Connor Kirst to tie the game at five. Khan completed a hat trick at 4:10 and also gave Villanova their first lead of the game at 6-5. The Quakers scored to tie it up but
Patrick Daly netted an unassisted goal before halftime to put Villanova up 7-6.
During the second half the game saw four ties, including in the opening minutes when Penn netted the first goal to make it 7-7 and then netted the next to regain the lead. It was Kirst who scored an unassisted EMO goal to tie things up at eight. The Quakers scored to take their final lead of the game at 9-8, which lasted until the 2:51 mark of the third when
Eric Overbay set up Daly to tie things at nine to end the quarter.
Campbell dished out a pass to Kirst in the opening minutes of the final quarter to regain the lead but the Quakers once again tied it at 10-10 at the 6:44 mark on a goal by Gergar, this would be the final Penn goal of the game. Villanova ended the game scores two, one at 4:49 by Khan and another at 1:28 by Daly to make the final 12-10.
Will Vitton picked up his fourth straight win in goal and finished with 14 saves. Defenseman
Patrick Kennedy had a team high six ground balls and five caused turnovers.
The Wildcats will continue their Philly 4 Lacrosse Classic weekend on Sunday at Sweeney Field. There Villanova will take on the Drexel Dragons at 12:00 P.M. Tonight the Dragons fell to the Saint Joseph's Hawks 10-9.
