VILLANOVA, Pa. – A first-half stalemate was thwarted by a four-goal third for Villanova, helping it to get the distance it needed to defeat La salle, 9-6, on Friday evening at the Villanova Swim Complex.

Each time Villanova (19-15, 8-7 MAAC) scored through the opening half, La Salle (21-13, 8-7 MAAC) matched it, never letting the Wildcats lead by more than a goal until they grabbed a three-goal run in the third to start creating space.

Allie Hansen and Kaysie Stuba led the scoring effort for the Wildcats with three points each. Hansen netted a goal and added a pair of assists while Stuba netted two and had the helping hand on another. Stuba was one of three 'Cats to find the back of the net twice during the game, joined by Isabel Herbt and Emily McKenzie.

Sarah Shaw came up big between the posts to move to 7-3 on the season, making 15 saves with one coming in player-down territory and another on a penalty shot.

The Wildcats narrowly outshot the Explorers 26-22 while being called for nine exclusions to La Salle's three.

Stuba put Villanova on the board first just 14 seconds in with an even strength goal. It took until the 3:29 mark for La Salle to answer as Madelyn Koerper netted her attempt, evening the score 1-1. La Salle had a last-ditch effort as time expired but nothing came of it, sending the contest to the second period.

Both sides spent the second battling lead changes and ties. Stella Byles connected on a chance early in the frame to put Villanova up 2-1. Another tie was met by a goal from Herbst, making it 3-2 with 3:58 remaining in the period. An exclusion was whistled on Herbst, giving La Salle a player-up advantage that it capitalized on as Koerper scored the final goal of the half to make it 3-3 at the break.

Much like the first half, the second opened with another early goal from Stuba, this time 21 seconds in the frame. It took over five minutes until Kali Hyham brought the game even again at four with a goal at the 2:30 mark. Then Villanova put its foot on the gas. Hansen opened up a scoring surge with 2:06 remaining in the period. A penalty whistle on Emily Morrissey set up La Salle for a five-meter attempt. Hannah Woren unloaded her shot but it was firmly batted away by Shaw, keeping the lead in tact. Morrissey and McKenzie scored two more to make it a 7-4 Wildcat lead heading into the fourth.

La Salle gained ground on a Francesca Co' penalty shot with 6:30 left, cutting into the lead 7-5. Herbst and McKenzie added on with their second goals of the day to push the lead back out to four, 9-5, before Co' netted her second in the final two minutes.

Saturday brings the regular-season finale for the Wildcats as they host VMI at 2 p.m. Senior Day festivities honoring Herbst, Amanda Rice and Stuba will happen ahead of the game.