VILLANOVA, Pa. – After a one-goal lead at the break, Villanova gave up a 63
rd minute goal that it could not answer, drawing with DePaul 1-1 on Thursday at Higgins Soccer Complex.
The draw snaps a three-match home losing streak for Villanova (4-5-3, 1-1-2 BIG EAST).
Susanna Soderman netted her second penalty kick of the season for the Blue and White's lone goal of the contest. The overall series with DePaul (2-5-4, 0-1-2) still remains even with the second tie in series history, now sitting at 10-10-2.
"I felt like we were not ourselves today," head coach
Samar Azem said. "DePaul scores and it deflates us and that's not this team that I have seen all semester. They've been a team that has had a lot of fight and fights back. Even though (DePaul) didn't score another goal, I felt like we gave them the front foot."
A collision inside the top part of the 18-yard box in the 39
th minute between
Gabby Koluch and DePaul's Katelyn Jamie led to a video review that awarded Villanova its fifth penalty kick of the season. Soderman lined up and sent a skipper into the back right of the net for a 1-0 lead.
That was the second successful PK of the year for the senior and the third for the team. It matches the most for Villanova in a single season since the 2021 team made three.
Villanova went into the break with the lead for the fourth time this season. It led the shot tally by a close 5-3 margin through the first 45 with Soderman accounting for both Blue and White chances that landed on frame.
Soderman had a chance to add to the lead in the 56
th minute with a set piece from well-over 20 yards out. She sent a rocket that was grabbed by DePaul's goalkeeper Elena Milam, keeping the lead at one.
In the 63
rd minute, DePaul picked up a quick steal in front of its bench with Beth Smyth gaining possession off of it. She raced to the right side of the 18-yard box and made a pass in toward Shayna da Silva. She made a couple sidesteps to control the ball before sending in a chance from eight yards out that went through a group of 'Cats and into the back left of the net to knot the game at 1-1.
Villanova had four chances to score through the final 11 minutes of the contest but none of the attempts could get on frame. The 'Cats were outshot 13-10 on the day, 10-5 in the final 45 minutes. DePaul's Susie Soderstrom led all players with five shots, two of those on frame.
Wildcat netminder
Hannah Dickinson made four saves in the match with Milam making two on the other end.
Villanova gets a 10-day break from action before hosting St. John's on Sunday, October 13 for Senior Day. That contest will begin at 1 p.m. inside Higgins Soccer Complex.
