SAN DIEGO – Villanova posted a strong second half of action that came with 12 goals, taking down Westcliff 15-10 to start its final day at the Aztec Invitational.
 
Allie Hansen led Villanova (10-9) with four goals on six shot attempts, adding on two assists for six points. Stella Byles and Emily McKenzie also netted hat tricks in the win. Sarah Shaw picked up the win between the posts, making eight saves with 10 goals allowed and two steals.
 
Westcliff (1-9) opened the game on a 3-0 run until Ella Mattocks scored late in the frame to cut into the lead, 3-1. The Warriors built their lead back to three with Julia Sandoval's second goal of the contest early in the second. McKenzie and Hansen pushed momentum back in favor of the 'Cats with a pair of powerplay goals, making it a 4-3 Westcliff lead. The Warriors tacked on two more goals down the stretch for a 6-3 lead at the break.
 
Villanova got back into the contest in the third, opening the half on a 5-0 scoring blitz.
 
Byles started the streak 32 seconds in the third to get within two before McKenzie made it a one-goal contest at 6-5. Emily Morrissey leveled the game 6-6 at the 5:48 mark but Hansen punched in two more for an 8-6 lead with 4:21 remaining in the period. Westcliff would not go down quietly, netting two chances in the final two minutes to tie the game again. Byles gave the lead back to the Blue and White with 30 seconds left in the frame, send it to the fourth at 9-8.
 
Much like the fourth, Byles was the first Wildcat to score in the fourth at the 7:06 mark, giving Villanova a 10-8 lead before Sandoval got a goal back 17 seconds later. The 'Cats created space with another scoring run that started with a McKenzie goal with 6:29 to play. Hansen scored on a powerplay followed by goals from Isabel Foley and Sara Withers for a 14-9 Villanova lead with over three minutes remaining. Sandoval moved the net on a powerplay to get within four but Lauren Picard netted the dagger with 1:16 remaining, also on a powerplay.
 
Villanova finishes out its California trip at 6:30 p.m. when it takes on UC San Diego.