CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. – The Villanova University field hockey team fell to Liberty, 1-0, on Friday afternoon (Oct. 11) at the Proving Grounds. The Flames (7-5, 2-2 BIG EAST) scored a goal with just over two minutes to play to seal the win.
There was very little action offensively for either team in the first quarter. Villanova (7-6, 2-2 BIG EAST) earned one chance after a penalty corner, but senior midfielder
Anne Drabbe's shot was blocked to keep the score tied at zero. Drabbe's shot was the only shot for either team in the first period.
Midway through the second quarter, the teams traded shots but saves by Villanova goalkeeper
Maddi Sears and Liberty goalie Michaela Skinner kept the game scoreless. With just over five minutes before halftime, Liberty's Kyleigh Faust fired a shot past Sears towards the goal, but sophomore back
Carey Werley made a diving defensive save to send the shot out of bounds and keep the score level.
After the teams went to halftime scoreless, they both failed to put a shot on goal in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter,
Alexandria Lavelle earned a great look from a penalty corner that she inserted, but Liberty's Josefina Tomasi made a defensive save to keep Villanova scoreless.
With six minutes to play, Liberty's Lou Combrinck was awarded a green card, giving Villanova a one-player advantage. However, less than a minute later,
Colleen Finnan and
Sabine de Ruijter each picked up yellow cards, turning the one-player advantage over to Liberty.
After Combrinck had returned to the game, the Flames' Ellie Livingston scored with an aerial deflection after a Sears save, giving Liberty a 1-0 lead with 2:10 to play. Villanova pulled Sears with less than a minute remaining, but could not score even after returning to full strength, and Liberty held on to win 1-0.
Sears made three saves and was credited with the loss, falling to 7-6 on the season. Skinner also made three saves and earned the win, improving to 7-5.
Up next, the Wildcats will travel to Norfolk, Va., to face Old Dominion on Friday (Oct. 18) at the L.R. Hill Sports Complex. The game will begin at 3 p.m. ET.
