VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova evaded a second half comeback by Marquette Sunday, playing to a 1-1 draw to pick up a point in the BIG EAST standings on Senior Day at Higgins Soccer Complex.
 
This latest draw marks a new Villanova (4-4-7, 1-4-2 BIG EAST) program record for draws in a single season with seven, surpassing the last high set by the 2007 squad. The Wildcats were first on the scoreboard thanks to a goal from one of the day's honorees, Jackie Richards, in the 38^th minute. Marquette (5-7-4, 2-3-2 BIG EAST) answered in the 52^nd minute with a goal from Josie Bieda. Moments later in the 53^rd minute, red cards were shown to Villanova's Maddie Fried and Marquette's Isabella Cook, forcing both sides to play the remainder of the match with 10 players.

"I thought we played really well today," head coach Samar Azem said. "I thought we moved the ball really well. We created some really good chances. This was the most fun watching us in the final third that I've had in a long time and, again, it's a testament to what this team is doing. Credit to Marquette; they stayed in it and they got their goal on a transition, but this group – they put their head down. They are such an amazing group. I have to say, the underclassmen did an amazing job of making sure that this group of 10 felt special because they are so special to us, but to be able to come out and celebrate them is such an honor. I don't think there are enough words to say how special they are to our program."
 
Villanova attempted a season-high 20 shots on the day, landing six of those on frame. Richards led all players with eight shot attempts, out-shooting Marquette as a whole with seven shots. Bieda accounted for half of her team's shots on goal by landing two. Graduate goalkeeper Payton Woodward made three saves for the 'Cats while Miki Easter grabbed five.
 
The Wildcats peppered a trio of shots nearly 20 minutes in with two of those being saved by Easter. After taking over possession off a Marquette throw in in the 38^th minute, Susanna Soderman sent a cross toward the left side of the 18-yard box that hit off a Golden Eagle defender before Richards took control near the top left corner of the box. The striker launched a shot into the upper 90 that sent Easter flying for a save attempt, putting Villanova up 1-0 heading into the break.
 
Marquette countered early out of the halftime break. In the 52^nd minute, Mia Haertle played a ball downfield to Bieda who was fending off a pair of Wildcat defenders. She took a shot nearly dead-on from 20 yards out that got just past Woodward to level the contest, 1-1.
 
After a collision near midfield between Fried and Cook that led to both sides playing with 10 players due to two red cards, Villanova's next best chance to take the lead came in back-to-back plays in the 58^th minute. Richards attempted to get a look into an open Megan Donnelly for an open net chance, but a Marquette defender was able to block her. Seconds later, Richards had a chance near the mouth of the net off of a pass from Abby Hanks, but Easter fell on the ball to save it.
 
The 'Cats had another favorable sequence in the 81^st and 84^th minutes with a chance from Makayla Stadler being blocked followed by a Richards's attempt that sailed high.
 
Villanova hits the road this week for its final two road games of the season, starting with a Thursday visit to Storrs, Conn. to take on the Connecticut Huskies. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.