VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova could not answer a 16^th minute goal from Providence, falling 1-0 on Thursday afternoon at Higgins Soccer Complex to finish the 2023 season.
 
"I would say that this was one of our best offensive outputs in league play," Villanova head coach Samar Azem said. "I think, one, the pressure was off, which again is part of our growth is learning to believe in ourselves when the pressure is there, but two, again, growth. We've been growing. We've been taking situations and learning from them, they've been – the players have been. So, the way that we created, that we maximized transitions, so awesome. So proud of the team."
 
Villanova (4-7-7, 1-7-2 BIG EAST) held a 13-11 advantage in shots over Providence (9-3-5, 4-1-5 BIG EAST), landing five on goal compared to four from the Friars. Providence took the lead on a goal from Corinne Dente at the 15:13 mark. The Wildcats had a chance to answer later in the first half on a penalty kick from Jackie Richards, but her attempt hit off the left post.
 
Richards led all players with five shot attempts, two of those on goal. Dente was one of three Friars to make two shot attempts with Gillian Kenney landing both of her attempts on target. In net, Payton Woodward made three saves for the 'Cats. Emma Bodmer made two saves in her start for the Friars in goal before Katherine McElroy came in for the second half. She was called upon for three saves.
 
"The way that we moved the ball in our middle third, I mean I've been asking a lot of our midfield and they were phenomenal today," Azem said. "Our midfield was really great today; I was so proud of them. Our backline was really tough. I thought the goal that they got was just a lapse in a moment, but outside of that, I thought that we were a very threatening team today and it was very exciting to see."
 
Villanova's first chance to score came in the ninth minute when it was awarded a free kick. Gabby Koluch lined up for it, sending a shot into the box. Her inswinger found the head of Richards but was saved by Bodmer.
 
In the 16^th minute, Kyla Gallagher pushed a look past a group of 'Cats that found Dente nearly 20 yards out. The forward moved a few steps, taking a shot from the top of the box that went to the back left of the net and past a diving Woodward, making it a 1-0 game.
 
The Wildcats' next best chance came in the 39^th minute. A foul was whistled on Abbey Finn that led to a VAR review which confirmed the foul happened in the box, giving Villanova a chance to level the game on a penalty kick. Richards stepped to the penalty spot for the attempt, but her shot hit off the post. Myla McLeod took an attempt off the rebound but it sailed north of the net.
 
The second half saw a pair of Villanova free kicks that sailed toward the net, but were both collected by McElroy. Both of those chances sandwiched a Providence shot from Thaea Mouratidis in the 56^th minute that had a chance of extending the Friars' lead. She sent a rocket from 25 yards out after a throw-in that landed right in the arms of Woodward.
 
For all of the latest news surrounding the Villanova Women's Soccer program during the offseason, be sure to keep up with villanova.com and follow the team on X, formerly know as Twitter, and Instagram at @NovaWSoccer.