PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Facing a 3-0 deficit heading into the final 10 minutes of play, Villanova scored three goals in a span of 8:22 to take a 3-3 against Providence on Sunday at Chapey Field at Anderson Stadium.
Two of the three goals that Villanova (5-6-6, 2-2-5) scored came off of corners down the stretch, marking the third and fourth such goals for the team this season. Providence (6-9-2, 3-5-1) had scored two of its goals in the first 45 minutes of play with a third early in the second period to create distance.
Alex Fava put Vilanova on the board first in the 81
st minute before
Lauren Ashman and
Susanna Soderman netted goals just 50 seconds apart in the 88
th and 89
th minutes.
This is the largest comeback for the program since Sept. 15, 2016 when Villanova erased a 2-0 deficit to take down La Salle in overtime, 3-2. The draw gives the 'Cats 11 points now in the conference standings with one game remaining in the regular season. They are sitting in seventh after Sunday's contests, one point shy of a BIG EAST Championship spot with the top six making the field.
"That was unbelievable. I have never been a part of a comeback like that in this kind of pressure moment from a team before," head coach
Samar Azem said. "Granted, we put ourselves in the hole that we were at, but that's part of being young. You're going to learn things the hard way but what is not expected is to come out of it that quickly in the game, in eight minutes."
Providence jumped out to a quick lead thanks to a strong take from the top of the box from Gillian Kenney. She played a pass from Kayla Briggs by moving through a trio of Blue and White defenders to send a look flying by a diving
Hannah Dickinson to make it 1-0 in the fourth minute.
It did not take long for Providence to double its lead. A foul in the box by the Wildcats gave the Friars a chance at a penalty kick. Ella McBride converted the attempt to push Providence's lead to 2-0 in the 11
th.
Villanova made six shot attempts throughout the rest of the opening half to lead attempts 7-4 but could not land one on frame. The best attempt came from
Madison Shumate in the 24
th, but her chance hit the post.
The Friars picked up their third goal of the contest in the 48
th minute. Keney made a quick move to Corinne Dente at the top of the box but two 'Cats were surrounding her. Dente quickly passed over to Kayla Briggs who broke past
Myla McLeod to send a shot into the back right of the net for a 3-0 lead.
The three-goal deficit did not stop the 'Cats from peppering shots throughout the second, making eight attempts over the next nearly 33 minutes of action.
Alex Little had a chance in the 68
th minute that was grabbed by Providence's Ellie Thallman.
The flood gates opened for the Villanova offense in the 81
st by way of a corner kick.
Gabby Koluch's arching inswinger made its way deep into the box where it met the head of an awaiting Fava. The glancing header was just the touch she needed as the ball darted into the back right of the net to cut the lead to 3-1. The goal marked the second of Fava's career and her first as a Wildcat.
Another corner kick in the 88
th brought another goal, this time from
Lauren Ashman. Koluch lined up for the set piece yet again, this time on the near side of the pitch. Her kick sailed over a group of people in the box and right at
Lauren Belcuore on the far side of the six-yard box. She booted a short look inside to an open Ashman who quickly redirected the ball past a crowd of Friars and into the net, making it a one-goal game with 2:08 to play.
That goal marked the second of Ashman's career and her first since the 2022 season.
Villanova needed just 50 seconds to level the contest. With a goal already in the contest, it was Fava's turn to provide an assist. After a shot from Little hit off of a Friar defender, Fava passing ahead to Soderman who was waiting about 10 yards in front of the net. She made a quick dribble and launched the ball past a falling Thallman to equalize in the 89
th.
Villanova led the shot tally 18-8 but both sides landed four of their attempts on frame. Soderman led everyone with six shots, marking a new season-high for the senior to match the team-high set by
Madison Shumate against Temple on August 18. Koluch's two assists match a season-high for the 'Cats and are a new career-high. The last Wildcat to have two assists in a game was
Olivia Neal also in that contest with Temple.
Hannah Dickinson made one save on the afternoon while Thallman accounted for the lone Providence save after entering in the second half. Emma Bodmer played the opening 45 without a save to make.
The regular-season finale for Villanova comes on Thursday as the Wildcats head to Butler. Kickoff from Indianapolis is set for 7 p.m.
