STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Villanova fell into a six-goal deficit by halftime that it could not battle back from, falling to No. 18 Wagner 18-9 on Sunday at the Spiro Sports Center.
 
The Wildcats (11-12, 1-2 MAAC) were outscored by Wagner (20-4, 3-0 MAAC) 5-2 in both of the first two quarters of the loss. Stella Byles and Emily McKenzie led the group in goals with three each. McKenzie added on an assist for four points.
 
Both sides found a goal in the first minute and a half of action before Wagner jumped on a three-goal run that was powered by two from Abbey Simshauser for a 4-1 lead. Emily Morrissey put Villanova back within two at the 3:20 mark, but Wagner's Andrea Arias answered, making it a 5-2 game through the first.
 
The Seahawks built out their lead to five with back-to-back goals from Carlota Alonso to open the second quarter. Byles stopped the 3-0 run with a goal 12 seconds after Alonso to trail 7-3. Wagner closed the half with Arias locking in a hat trick, netting two more for a 10-4 lead at the break.
 
Villanova posted four goals in the third but found itself outscored by the Seahawks 7-4 in the frame. Isabel Foley needed just 21 seconds into the third to cut the deficit in half, 10-5. Wagner created distance with a 5-1 scoring run for an eight-goal lead at 15-7. A penalty was called on Wagner's Simshauser with 1:08 on the clock. Morrissey lined up for the five-meter and connected, making it a 16-8 game ahead of the fourth.
 
It took over three and a half minutes for a goal to fall in the fourth as Byles scored on a powerplay. Wagner scored the dagger over 30 seconds later, also on a powerplay.
 
Arias led the Seahawks with five goals. She was one of the four multi-goal scorers for Wagner on the day. In goal for the 'Cats, Gracin Kerry and Sarah Shaw combined for 11 saves with each having a steal.
 
Villanova stays on the road this weekend but not far as it heads to La Salle's Kirk Pool for three more conference games. The 'Cats will face LIU on Saturday and VMI and La Salle on Sunday.