LEWISBURG, Pa. –
Stella Byles and
Emily McKenzie combined for eight goals to lead Villanova past Salem on Saturday in the Bucknell Invitational at the McKinney Natatorium.
The pair each found the back of the net four times in the contest. They led eight Villanova (2-4) goal scorers with
Ella Mattocks notching a hat trick and
Allie Hansen adding on a pair of goals. Hansen,
Anna Painter, Mattocks and McKenzie all had two assists in the win.
Isabel Foley provided a punch on defense with four steals.
In net,
Abigail Shelby picked up her first win of the season, allowing seven goals and adding on four saves, one being on a Salem (1-1) power play.
Gracin Kerry closed the game between the posts, making seven saves including one on a five-meter attempt.
Byles got Villanova on the board first with a goal in the first 56 seconds of play but Salem's Emma Hale tied it just a minute later. Hansen and Byles pushed Villanova back ahead but the Tigers answered down the stretch, leveling the game 3-3 through the first.
Hansen capitalized on a powerplay at the 7:43 mark of the second to give the 'Cats the lead again. After a Salem goal tied it, the 'Cats responded with a five-goal run to close the half, making it 9-4. Two of those goals belonged to Byles to bring her to four.
The Villanova run continued into the second half with McKenzie grabbing a hat trick by the 4:36 mark of the third, giving Villanova an 11-4 advantage. Salem's scoring drought came to a close thanks to Keri Brooks finding the net in the final two minutes. Mattocks got a goal back in the final second to make it 12-5 heading into the fourth.
McKenzie's fourth goal came in the first 13 seconds of the final quarter, pushing the Villanova lead to eight. The 'Cats took a 2-1 scoring advantage into the backstretch of the frame until Faith Stewart got Salem back within eight at 15-7 with just under two minutes remaining. Villanova closed the book with 15 ticks of the clock left as Mattocks netted the final goal on a player-up advantage.
Villanova is back in the pool at 6:45 for its second game of the invitational as it takes on No. 14 Princeton.
