CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa.—Villanova took down Providence in thrilling fashion to clinch their first BIG EAST Tournament appearance since 2018. Freshman back Gemma Lysaght scored two goals including the game winner with six minutes remaining.

"It felt great," said Lysaght, who recorded her first career game winning goal. "It was really a whole team effort… I'm just so proud of everyone, our whole team came together for the win. You have something to fight for every game when you know your teammates have your back."

After conceding the first goal of the game two minutes into the contest, Villanova responded with three unanswered goals to take a 3-1 lead into halftime. Sabine de Ruijter put the Wildcats on the board when Anne Drabbe's pass found her open in the arc. In the second quarter, a well worked counterattack saw de Ruijter make her way into the arc and find Amanda Middleman for a tap in goal before Lysaght scored her first goal of the game three minutes later to put the Wildcats up two. The Friars scored two goals in the third quarter to tie the game. The lone goal of the final quarter came courtesy of a penalty corner as Lysaght received the insert from Emma Schwarz, faked out the defense and fired a rocket into the goal to seal the win for Villanova.

"She is absolutely fantastic," said head coach Joanie Milhous on her freshman. "We have a lot of confidence in her and knew that she had the ability to step into a key role, she has great poise. The game winner was fantastic."

Milhous and her staff were forced to make many adjustments in the second half as midfielder Raina Smolij did not play in the second half due to injury. With 12 minutes remaining Maeve Boston received a yellow card and the Wildcats held Providence without a shot for five crucial minutes while a man down. Usual forwards Eileen Mazzaro, Meghan Mitchell and Middleman were playing in the midfield alongside Drabbe and Evelyn O'Neill to keep the game tied.

"We knew that we were going to have to make some adjustments in the midfield and give some of our players breaks because Providence is a good team. Everybody did such a fantastic job with those adjustments," said Milhous.

Lysaght led Villanova with her two-goal performance. De Ruijter registered her 21^st points of the season with a goal and an assist. Middleman scored her tenth goal of the season and Drabbe and Schwarz picked up an assist in the win. Freshman goalkeeper Maddi Sears recorded her first career win as she played the second half recording two saves.

The adjustments will continue as Villanova prepares for a rematch against top seeded Liberty in the BIG EAST semifinals. The Flames defeated the 'Cats 6-0 on October 6^th and held Villanova to just five shots. Game time is set for 1 p.m. Friday, November 3^rd at Temple's Howarth Field in Philadelphia.