VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova faced a five-goal Salem scoring surge in the final quarter of action, falling 10-8 at the Villanova Swim Complex on Sunday morning.
The loss snaps a five-game winning streak for Villanova (7-7), its first loss since falling to Salem (5-10) in the opening game of the Mercyhurst Curtis Robinette Memorial Invitational on Feb. 19.
Kaysie Stuba was the leading scorer for the 'Cats with three goals. She added on an assist to her statline for a four-point game.
Stella Byles also collected four points, netting two goals with a pair of assists.
Salem grabbed a 2-0 advantage before Villanova found itself on the board with a goal from
Lauren Picard with 1:22 left in the opening period.
Emily Morrissey and
Stella Byles continued the scoring run to pull Villanova ahead, 3-2. Salem quickly answered with a goal from Madisyn Nye to bring the game even. The Tigers picked up a late breakaway toward the net as the clock waned down but their shot attempt hit the post, leaving the score 3-3 at the break.
Nearly three minutes into the third quarter,
Kaysie Stuba found the back of the net to put the 'Cats back ahead.
Byles added another goal to push the lead up to 5-3 at the 4:27 mark. A penalty foul was whistled on Salem's Camryn Cotter, drawn by Morrissey. Stuba lined up for the five-meter attempt and converted, doubling up Salem on points at 6-5. The Tigers scored back-to-back goals in nearly 30 seconds from Chloe Woodbine and Margherita Garibbo to cut the Villanova lead down to 6-5.
Allie Hansen netted an attempt on a pass from Byles under 30 seconds into the fourth, but Salem retaliated moments later on a Annefleur ten Bloemendal goal to make it a one-goal game again. The sides began exchanging quick goals for the next minute until Salem jumped on 3-0 scoring run with Courtney O'Shaughnessy putting the Tigers ahead 9-8 with five minutes left. The scoring onslaught continued with Woodbine making it a two-goal Salem lead with 3:17 remaining, the final goal needed in the contest.
Goalie
Abigail Shelby collected seven saves and added an assist.
Bloemendal was the leading goal-scorer for the Tigers at three.
The Wildcats get back to it at 2 p.m. against Mercyhurst at the Villanova Swim Complex.
