VILLANOVA, Pa. – A career-high five goals for
Emily McKenzie helped push Villanova past Mercyhurst on Saturday, 18-8, to open the doors to the Villanova Swim Complex for the first time this season.
The sophomore has two multi-goal games this season for Villanova (1-4) with the other being a hat trick against Marist on Jan. 28. McKenzie had never scored more than three goals in a game before Saturday. She was one of four 'Cats to find the back of the net multiple times in the contest.
Emily Morrissey added on four goals while
Stella Byles and
Amelia Baca each scored a pair.
Allie Hansen led the team in points, however, netting a goal with five assists.
Freshman
Gracin Kerry started the game in net for the 'Cats. She allowed just three goals in her collegiate debut, making 11 saves while adding on an assist and a steal.
Abigail Shelby finished out the contest, allowing five goals with nine saves and a pair of steals.
Both McKenzie and Baca scored within the first three minutes of play to give Villanova an early 2-0 lead. McKenzie made the most of a powerplay opportunity, pushing the lead to 3-0 nothing by the 5:29 mark. A penalty on
Sara Withers set Mercyhurst up for a five-meter with just over four minutes remaining in the frame. Hanna Good connected on the attempt, cutting into the lead at 3-1. Sara Marin kept the scoring going for the Lakers, getting them within one at 3:22 on the clock. Villanova answered to the tune of two goals from Byles and Morrissey, giving it a 5-2 lead through the first eight minutes.
The Villanova defense stood tall in the second quarter, allowing just one goal from the Lakers for a 7-1 scoring run over the final 11:12 minutes of action in the first half.
Allie Dombkowski was called with an exclusion in the first 11 seconds of the second, giving Villanova a player-up advantage that Morrissey scored on, extending the lead to 6-2. McKenzie netted her hat trick at the 6:51 mark, making it a 4-0 run for the 'Cats. Mercyhurst's Marin brought the sprint to a halt over a minute later, cutting its deficit to 7-3. Villanova closed the half on a 3-0 run in the final four minutes of the second quarter thanks to McKenzie,
Lauren Picard and
Isabel Foley, sending the 'Cats into the break with a 10-3 advantage.
Morrissey scored the first two goals of the second half, push the Blue and White lead to nine. Mercyhurst went on a 3-1 run from that point with Villanova still leading 13-6 heading into the fourth.
The Lakers continued their scoring push with another goal in the opening minute, but Villanova answered with back-to-back goals from Hansen and Byles for a 15-7 lead. Mercyhurst got another one back but McKenzie,
Ella Mattocks and Baca closed the door with three goals in the final four minutes.
Villanova hits the road to Lewisburg, Pa. next weekend for the Bucknell Tournament. It will face Salem and Princeton on Feb. 11 at 12:30 p.m. and 6:45 p.m., respectively before taking on the hosting Bison Feb. 12 at 10:30 a.m.
