PHILADELPHIA – Villanova used a powerful offensive performance that saw at least four goals scored in each period to pick up a 20-7 win over VMI at the Kirk Pool on La Salle's campus.
Through the first two quarters of action, Villanova (12-13, 2-3 MAAC) had already built out a six-goal lead, posting back-to-back five-goal periods. Five Wildcats netted multiple goals led by a four-goal effort from freshman
Ella Mattocks, scoring on half of her eight shot attempts.
Allie Hansen was the leading scorer for the Wildcats, netting three goals with three assists for six points.
Abigail Shelby picked up her third win on the year in net, moving to 3-6 this season. She made 11 saves, three of those against the VMI (3-11, 0-5 MAAC) powerplay.
The first five goals of the day belonged to the Blue and White with five different Wildcats accounting for the goals.
Stella Byles and
Isabel Foley put the 'Cats up by two in the first two minutes of play. Later on,
Emily McKenzie,
Sara Withers and Mattocks all scored in the span of a minute with
Lauren Picard capping the run with 2:22 on the clock to make it a 5-0 lead. Sadie Smith stopped the scoring run for VMI, scoring on a powerplay with 30 seconds left in the first, cutting into the lead at 5-1.
Nearly three minutes had elapsed in the second quarter before either side scored with Hansen connecting to extend the Villanova lead out to 6-1. The Keydets battled back with a pair of goals from Courtney Novotny and Sydney Shettleroe to cut Villanova's lead in half at 6-3 with 3:16 remaining in the half.
Anna Painter and
Adrienne Grimes answered with a pair of Villanova goals to put their side back up by five at 8-3. The final minute and a half of the half brought another Keydet goal, but Mattocks and Picard netted their second goals of the morning, sending the game into the break with Villanova up 10-4.
Villanova grabbed a powerplay opportunity early in the third quarter with
Emily Morrissey starting the half with a goal just 12 seconds in. She scored a second over two minutes later before
Amelia Baca added to the scoring, growing the lead out to 13-4 and forcing the Keydets into a timeout. Right out of the break, Villanova made it a 7-0 spring spanning the second and third quarters, adding on two more for a 15-4 advantage. VMI got two back in the final three minutes, but a penalty was whistled on Shettleroe with 1:20 on the clock, giving the 'Cats a chance to build on the lead from five meters out. Hansen lined up for the shot, scoring to make it a 10-goal advantage at 16-6 ahead of the fourth.
Hansen netted a powerplay chance two and a half minutes into the fourth before
Coco Jones and Mattocks made it a 13-goal lead at 19-6. VMI regrouped with another timeout, but Villanova once again capitalized with Mattocks scoring another with 1:30 left. Novotny closed the contest with a goal in the final 30 seconds for the 20-7 final tally.
Villanova closes its day at the Kirk Pool at 1 p.m. against La Salle.
