PHILADELPHIA – Fifth year forward Sabine de Ruijter scored a career-best four goals as the Villanova University field hockey team defeated Penn, 5-1, on Sunday (Oct. 6) at Ellen Vagelos Field.
 
De Ruijter now has a BIG EAST- and team-leading 12 goals on the season. Her four goals and eight points were the most by any Wildcat this season.
 
In addition to de Ruijter's stellar performance, forward Meghan Mitchell added the 50th goal of her career, becoming the third Wildcat to ever reach the half-century mark.
 
Just under two minutes into the game, de Ruijter scored her first goal from a penalty corner, assisted by Emma Schwarz and Raina Smolij.
 
Later in the first quarter, Mitchell had a breakaway chance stopped inside the arc, resulting in a penalty stroke. De Ruijter converted on the opportunity, giving Villanova (7-5, 2-1 BIG EAST) a 2-0 lead. De Ruijter now ranks second in program history in career penalty-stroke goals with eight.
 
Both teams were held scoreless in the second quarter, despite the Quakers (2-8, 1-2 Ivy) taking five shots. Goalkeeper Maddi Sears made four saves in the first half, ensuring that Villanova took a 2-0 lead into the break.
 
Early in the third quarter, de Ruijter scored off another penalty corner to secure the hat trick. Schwarz and Smolij were credited with assists again, and the goal pushed Villanova's lead to 3-0.
 
With three minutes remaining in the third period, the Wildcats earned another chance as forward Ava Borkowski fired a shot on goal that was deflected by Mitchell into the back of the cage, giving the Blue and White a 4-0 advantage.
 
In the fourth quarter, the Quakers got on the board despite playing shorthanded due to a yellow card. Julia Ryan scored for Penn, cutting Villanova's lead to 4-1.
 
With five minutes to play, de Ruijter scored again after a series of penalty corners. Backs Alexandria Lavelle and Gemma Lysaght assisted on the score, giving the Wildcats a 5-1 lead that they would hold throughout the rest of the game.
 
Sears earned the win after making five saves, improving to 7-5 on the season, while Ruby de Frees was given the loss in the cage for the Quakers.
 
"Our focus was on capitalizing on opportunities and our team did just that. I'm really proud of them," said head coach Joanie Milhous. "Sabine (de Ruijter) had an incredible game with her shooting."
 
Up next, the Wildcats will home to the Conshohocken Proving Grounds to face No. 18-ranked Liberty on Friday (Oct. 11). The game will start at 1 p.m. and will be streamed live on FloSports.