PRINCETON, N.J. – After being held to just one goal in the opening period, Villanova found itself in a hole it could not climb out of, falling to St. Francis Brooklyn, 12-8, on Saturday in its first game of the Princeton Invitational.

Emily McKenzie led Villanova (2-7) with three goals in the loss while Stella Byles and Lauren Picard each netted a pair. Abigail Shelby started in net, making three saves with nine goals allowed. Sarah Shaw subbed in for the second half for their first bit of playing time this season, allowing just three goals with four saves.

Villanova was down 3-0 late in the first before Lauren Picard got the 'Cats on the board with 16 seconds remaining. Another Terriers goal made it a 4-1 deficit through the opening eight minutes. Byles put the group within three nearly a minute into the second quarter but a 4-2 St. Francis spurt to finish the period put Villanova behind 9-4 at the break.

The third quarter was all Villanova as the Wildcats held the Terriers scoreless in the frame. Emily Morrissey and Picard found the back of the net to make it a 9-6 game with eight minutes remaining.

St. Francis opened the fourth with back-to-back goals from Sofia Kolovou to push its advantage to 11-6. McKenzie scored two in the final five minutes to put Villanova down 11-8, but Mia Leto connected on the last goal to cement St. Francis' victory.

Sunday brings a pair of games for Villanova at the DeNunzio Pool. The day starts at 1 p.m. against Chapman before facing Bucknell at 5:30 p.m.