POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Nine Wildcats found the back of the net while the defense allowed the second-fewest goals on the season to defeat Salem, 11-6, to close out its time at Marist's Courtney Fisher Invite on Saturday afternoon.
Villanova (7-6) never let Salem (3-9) score more than two goals in a period. The Wildcats held Salem to a single goal in both the second and third periods to help distance itself.
With the win, Villanova is now on a five-game stretch of wins.
"It was a solid effort, both on the defensive and offensive end," head coach
Larry Sanders said.
Salem took the opening lead on a goal from Courtney O'Shaughnessy, but Villanova quickly answered with back-to-back goals from
Allie Hansen and
Joia McKinney. The Tigers got a goal back with a minute remaining on a power play to even the score but McKinney put the 'Cats back ahead. Salem threatened with a shot as time expired but
Abigail Shelby saved it to keep Villanova ahead, 3-2.
The 'Cats hopped onto a roll early in the second period, picking up a 3-0 run to push the lead to four with a powerplay goal from
Stella Byles, a five-meter attempt by
Kaysie Stuba and Hansen's second goal of the contest. Salem did not see a goal in the period until the 1:42 mark, cutting the lead in half at 6-3.
Lauren Picard fired a shot that found the goal, marking the last goal of the first half with Villanova leading at the break, 7-3.
Villanova's advantage grew in the third as
Amanda Rice and
Emily Morrissey scored to triple the lead, 9-3. Salem's Annefleur ten Bloemendal connected on a shot with half a minute left to put a dent in the lead, 9-4. She attempted a shot late in the period that Shelby denied, keep Villanova well-ahead heading to the fourth.
Isabel Herbst struck first in the fourth to push the lead to six, but Bloemendal answered with back-to-back goals to make it a 10-6 game.
Adrienne Grimes stopped the Salem surge with a goal at the 2:03 mark to get the 'Cats back up by five with the last goal Villanova would need.
Shelby made 13 saves in net to pick up the win. Both Hansen and Stuba were credited with two assists each.
The Wildcats are back in the home pool on Sunday, hosting Salem at 10 a.m. and Mercyhurst 2 p.m.
