CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa.- The Villanova Wildcats had a thrilling double overtime victory over the visiting Owls of Temple University in a BIG EAST and rivalry match up.
 
The Owls were strong right out of the gate in the first quarter kicking things off with a quick goal off a penalty corner (9:43). Villanova answered back a couple minutes later with a goal scored by sophomore midfielder #4 Emma Schwarz (2:16) to make her first of the season. Schwarz scored off her own shot rebound tying the score 1-1 to end the quarter.
 
The second quarter followed the same pattern as before with the Owls making their way on the board once more as the quarter began. The Wildcats were determined to stay on Temples heels and countered with a goal of their own scored by the graduate transfer #27 Noor Van de Laar (3:10) also unassisted.
 
The third and fourth quarters were full on battles between the two teams both trying to end the game and claim victory for their schools. Although no goals were scored both teams showed a lot of heart and effort to try to get the ball into the back of the net and stop their opponent from doing the same. Not to mention some great work by sophomore goalkeeper #15 Emma Leppert who had five saves in the half.
 
With both teams locked in a stalemate of a score 2-2 they were forced into a 7v7 overtime. Temple has typically been a more physical team, but the Wildcats pushed back and refused to lose. Last year Temple had beat Villanova 1-0 and the Wildcats did everything they could to repeat the past. The Wildcats held the Owls and forced yet another overtime.
 
The Wildcats never wavered and continued their attack against the Owls and finally with 2:16 remaining on the clock, junior back #14 Sabine de Ruijter fired the ball outside of the arch making contact with senior forward #3 Maggie Mick's stick and set the ball slamming into the back of the net. In a real nailbiter of a game, the Wildcats made an epic comeback claiming victory over their rivals and closing the book on this thrilling competition in a Cinderella story like fashion.
 
The last time the Wildcats beat Temple at home was October 19, 2018, in a 3-1 win. This year Wildcats get to write over the past and mark a new chapter in the record books with a 3-2 (2ot) win over their intrastate rivals.
 
Head coach Joanie Milhous commented on this big win and the effort she got to see from her team today that led them to victory.
 
"First off, I thought temple was a very temple is a very strong team. And I think we responded really well. They're physical, but we responded really strong and on ball as well. I think our defense was really strong and we were capitalizing on some opportunities that we were getting and trying to draw a couple corners," said Milhous. "Overall, I really liked how we played a full 60 minutes of field hockey today. I thought the efforts by different people was fantastic, especially in some of our goals that we scored were great, but I liked how we even came from behind and we just never had a doubt and we never started playing on our heels at all. We just kept in attack mode."
 
The duo that set and scored the game winner, de Rujiter and Mick, also had a few words to add on the excitement of the match and the team effort on the day.
 
"I think it was really just a big team effort today. We really gave our hearts out there and fought hard. Obviously, it was a really good game and to finish it with that, it was just amazing," said Mick. "I think after the loss from last year, since the day after we've been looking forward to this game. We've wanted our revenge and today we got it," Said de Ruijter. "We finished as like a team. We battled as a team. Every time they scored a goal, we came back right after. And I think that just shows how much we've grown from last year."
 
The Wildcats will be back at home to face off against the Explorers of La Salle University on Sunday Sep. 25. Game time is set for 12 p.m.
 
 
Game Recap By Quarters
1^st Quarter
- TEM Goal scored by #23 McKenna Burkhardt (9:43) assisted by #32 Tess Muller
- Goal scored by #4 Emma Schwarz (2:16) unassisted
- Shots on goal 1-1 (VU-TEM)
- Corners 2-1 (VU-TEM)
- TEM goalie #00 Molly Frey had no saves
- VU goalie #15 Emma Leppert had no saves
 
2^nd Quarter
- TEM Goal scored by #23 McKenna Burkhardt (14:28) assisted by #32 Tess Muller and #10 Annie Judge
- Goal scored by #27 Noor Van de Laar (3:10) unassisted
- Shots on goal 2-2 (VU-TEM)
- Corners 1-3 (VU-TEM)
- TEM goalie #00 Molly Frey had saves
- VU goalie #15 Emma Leppert had saves
- TEM Green card issued to #4 Myrthe Schuilenburg (5:40)
- VU Green card issued to #10 Anne Drabbe (1:07)
 
3^rd Quarter
- No goals were scored
- Shots on goal 1-1 (VU-TEM)
- Corners 0-0 (VU-TEM)
- TEM goalie #00 Molly Frey had one save
- VU goalie #15 Emma Leppert had one save
 
4^th Quarter
- No goals were scored
- Shots on goal 2-4 (VU-TEM)
- Corners 1-1 (VU-TEM)
- TEM goalie #00 Molly Frey had two saves
- VU goalie #15 Emma Leppert had four saves
- VU Yellow card (five minutes) issued #10 Anne Drabbe (5:32)
 
OT
- No goals were scored
- Shots on goal 0-2 (VU-TEM)
- Corners 1-0 (VU-TEM)
- TEM goalie #00 Molly Frey had no save
- VU goalie #15 Emma Leppert had two saves
- TEM Green card issued to #24 Sydney Beck (0:12)
 
OT2
- Goal scored by #3 Maggie Mick (2:16) assisted by #14 Sabine de Ruijter
- Shots on goal 1-0 (VU-TEM)
- Corners 1-0 (VU-TEM)
- TEM goalie #00 Molly Frey had no saves
- VU goalie #15 Emma Leppert had no saves