PHILADELPHIA – Despite making a comeback to open the second half, Villanova could not battle its way back, falling to No. 23 LIU 11-9 on Saturday at the Kirk Pool on La Salle's campus.
Villanova (11-13, 1-3 MAAC) held the lead just once in the loss to LIU (13-10, 4-1 MAAC), scoring the opening goal before the Sharks took a lead it would never relinquish.
Emily Morrissey led Villanova with four goals, also adding on a steal. Both
Allie Hansen and
Stella Byles scored two goals each. Hansen tacked on a team-high two assists.
The first goal of the day belonged to Villanova with Morrissey connecting on a penalty goal 22 seconds in to the contest. LIU answered with a pair of goals including a powerplay opportunity that made it a 2-1 lead for the Sharks. Eleven seconds later, Byles leveled the contest before LIU jumped on a 3-0 scoring run over the final four minutes of the first. The Wildcats had some chances late in the frame that either hit the post or went wide, leaving it at 5-2 heading into the second.
LIU needed just over a minute into the second period to extend its scoring streak for a lead to 6-2 with a long goal from Elena Camarena. A penalty was called on LIU's Kate Hinrichs at the 6:00 mark, giving the 'Cats a chance to cut the deficit in half.
Emily McKenzie lined up, sending a shot right past goalie Julia Zebak and into the middle of the net to trail by three at 6-3. Later on,
Allie Hansen delivered a strong cross to
Stella Byles that she launched into the net, making it a two-goal game, 6-4. LIU struck again with 17 seconds remaining in the half when Paola Dominguez-Castro scored from five meters out, sending the game into the break with the Sharks holding a 7-4 lead.
Villanova opened the second half with a vengeance, scoring twice in the first 65 seconds of play.
McKenzie opened the scoring with a strong look over a defending Shark 25 seconds in.
Emily Morrissey struck from nearly 20 feet out at the 6:55 mark, cutting the deficit to 7-6. The Sharks netted a pair of chances to create distance including a five-meter by Camarena that made it a 9-6 LIU lead with 2:21 to play in the third.
Anna Painter had a chance to chip into the lead on a penalty attempt, but it was quickly saved by Zebak.
LIU opened the fourth quarter scoring with a lob from Amelia Sanchez that found the left side of the net, giving the Sharks a 10-6 lead in the first minute. Morrissey delivered another long shot attempt that found the back right of the net, getting within three at 10-7. The Sharks quickly answered with Dominguez-Castro scoring on a chance that hit the post but bounced into the mouth of the net, making it an 11-7 contest.
Hansen netted back-to-back chances to cut into the lead. First she used a slick bounce from 10 feet out to evade a Shark defender and get the ball over the goalie and into the net, moving the deficit to 11-8 with 3:27 remaining in the game. With 1:30 on the clock, she went over a defender to push in a shot that hit off of the goalie's hands and into the back corner, making it an 11-9 game.
Sarah Shaw made seven saves for the 'Cats in the loss, grabbing three steals, as well.
Villanova is back in the Kirk Pool on Sunday taking on VMI at 10 a.m. and La Salle at 1 p.m.
