VILLANOVA, Pa. – After getting through the first half with a two-goal lead, Villanova's defense powered up in the second half, allowing just two goals in a 13-8 win over St. Francis Brooklyn on Saturday afternoon at the Villanova Swim Complex.

Villanova (16-12, 5-4 MAAC) was on fire in the first half with seven goals scored, three of those from Stella Byles alone. She and Kaysie Stuba led the team with four goals scored in the game with Byles tacking on an assist for a five-point game. The Wildcats' defensive efforts held St. Francis (5-16, 1-8 MAAC) to a single goal in three periods while also stealing the ball 13 times.

With her four goals on eight shots, Stuba moved into third for career shots (532) and points (349). She is also now second in team history for single-season points (123) and shots (82) while sitting in a tie for fourth in goals (78).

"A great first quarter and then had to fight but did it to win," head coach Larry Sanders said. "We did that with only giving up two goals in the second half."

St. Francis opened the game with a five-meter goal from Gabriela Kostka at the 6:45 mark for the only goal it saw in the first period. From there, Villanova scored seven unanswered with Byles sandwiching the run. The trio of Amanda Rice, Isabel Herbst and Joia McKinney pushed Villanova to a 4-1 lead, scoring their three goals within the span of a minute. Allie Hansen added one with 2:20 left in the period before Byles rattled off the final two of the quarter for a hat trick and a 7-1 lead.

The Villanova scoring run stretched to eight unanswered a minute into the second when Stuba found the back of the net. St. Francis found a run of its own, scoring five-in-a-row to cut the deficit to 8-6 at the break.

Stuba had her hat trick by the 5:05 mark of the third, scoring the first two goals in the second half for the 'Cats for a 10-goal cushion. McKinney had the last in the frame, taking Villanova into the third with an 11-7 advantage.

Gabriela Kostka put the Terriers within three over halfway into the fourth before Byles and Stuba finished it off.

Hansen had a four-point day as well, adding a trio of assists to her goal.

Abigail Shelby snagged nine saves in her starting appearance, picking up a steal and allowing six goals. Sarah Shaw's relief appearance came with two goals allowed and seven steals.

The Wildcats host another pair of home games Sunday, taking on Siena at 11:30 a.m. followed by Marist at 3 p.m.