ERIE, Pa. – The first of four games at the Curtis Robinette Memorial Invite saw Villanova fall to Salem 10-7 at Mercyhurst's Hallman Aquatics Center on Saturday.

Emily Morrissey had a season-high three goals in the loss, leading Villanova's (2-6) five goal-scorers in the outing. The Wildcats led the way through the first quarter but were outscored by Salem (1-8) in the other three stanzas. Villanova put away seven of their 30 shot attempts in the contest, grabbing 11 steals, as well.

"We did not shoot well," Villanova head coach Larry Sanders said. "Played good enough defense to win if we had put our shots away."

Villanova used a pair of goals from Morrissey and one from Allie Hansen to hold a 3-1 advantage through the opening quarter.

Salem opened the second period on a 2-0 run to level the contest at 3-3. Stella Byles ended the Tigers' run with a powerplay goal at the 1:29 mark to give Villanova a 4-3 lead. Salem answered with a little over a minute left for the final goal of the half, leaving the game tied 4-4 at the break.

The Wildcats faced their first deficit of the game when Annefleur ten Bloemendal scored on a powerplay early in the third. She added on another at the 3:47 mark to expand Salem's lead 6-4. Lauren Picard moved the net to end a 3-0 Tiger run with 1:56 remaining in the third, cutting the score to 7-5. Bloemendal and Morrissey exchanged goals a bit later, making it an 8-6 game heading into the final quarter.

It took well over five minutes before a goal was scored in the fourth when Salem's Chloe Woodbine connected to make it 9-6. Adrienne Grimes scored on a powerplay with 1:32 remaining to get Villanova within a pair before Woodbine answered at the 0:25 for the final goal of the game, 10-7.

Goalie Abigail Shelby made six saves in the loss while Salem's Philippa Piper on the other end of the pool made 16, also logging an assist and a steal.

Villanova is back in the pool at 12:45 p.m. to face hosting Mercyhurst.