STORRS, Conn. – Villanova found itself facing a two-goal hole at the halftime break that it could not battle back from, falling to UConn 4-0 on Thursday night 4 at the Joseph J. Morrone Stadium at Rizza Performance Center.
 
The four goals allowed by Villanova (4-5-7, 1-5-2 BIG EAST) mark the most an opponent has scored against the Wildcats since the 2021 season. UConn (7-3-5, 4-1-3 BIG EAST) scored a pair of first half goals from Sophie McCarthy and Anaya Johnson, sending the 'Cats into the break facing their largest halftime deficit of the season. Cara Jordan and Abbey Jones extended the lead with goals in the final 45 minutes of action.
 
Villanova was outshot 19-9 on the night and trailed the shots on goal ledger, 8-5. Susanna Soderman matched a career-high with four shot attempts, three of those on frame. In net, Payton Woodward made four saves. UConn's netminder Kaitlyn Mahoney was credited with five saves.
 
Villanova's first true chance of getting on the board came in the 10^th minute as Jackie Richards sent a shot from the top of the 18-yard box. Her attempt went right into the chest of a waiting Mahoney.
 
UConn used a corner in the 22^nd minute to pull ahead. Jones sent the set piece deep into the 18-yard box that McCarthy headed in right in front of the net for a 1-0 lead. The Huskies had a chance to extend the lead moments later after they quickly took possession back after a set piece from Woodward from just over the midfield line was headed away. Chioma Okafor took control, sending a pass to a dashing Jordan who raced forward for an empty net attempt. She sent a shot from over 20 yards out, but a racing Woodward made a diving grab in the goal box.
 
The Huskies converted on another corner in the 34^th minute. This time it was Joyce Ryder who lined up for it on the opposite corner of the pitch. She found Johnson who was racing into the six-yard box, to send an opposite shot into the lower left corner of the net to make it a 2-0 UConn lead.
 
Jordan pushed the lead up to three for the Huskies early in the second half. Woodward had a miscue on a clearance attempt that Jordan picked up to score on from six yards out, extending the lead to 3-0.
 
Villanova made a pair of attempts in the 61^st minute that came up short. Soderman took a chance from the top of the 18-yard box that hit off the right post. Seconds later, Gabby Koluch took a long look that was saved by Mahoney.
 
Jones made it a 4-0 lead for UConn in the 78^th minute. She sent a rocket from just inside the penalty box that hit off the crossbar and into the back of the net.
 
Soderman once again tried to make a dent on the Huskies' lead in the 86^th minute, this time on a free kick. Her shot into the box nearly found Makayla Stadler on a header, but Mahoney punched it out.
 
Villanova's final road trip of the season comes on Sunday as the team heads to Chicago, Ill. to take on DePaul. Kickoff from Wish Field is set for 1:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. CT.