CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. – Wildcat goalkeeper
Maddi Sears posted her second shut out of the season as the Villanova University field hockey team defeated La Salle, 2-0, on Monday night (Sept. 16) at the Conshohocken Proving Grounds. Senior
Anne Drabbe and fifth-year
Sabine de Ruijter each scored in the win.
"I'm thrilled with our team's performance today," said head coach
Joanie Milhous. "La Salle came into the game undefeated, so it was a significant challenge. We put in a full 60 minutes of hard work. I'm very happy to come away with a 2-0 shutout win."
After a scoreless first quarter in which the Wildcats (3-3) put two shots on goal, Drabbe got the Blue and White on the board in the second quarter by deflecting in a goal off a penalty corner, giving Villanova a 1-0 lead with just over five minutes before halftime.
Gemma Lysaght and
Raina Smolij were credited with the assist.
The Wildcats' back line, led by Lysaght, kept La Salle (5-1) from putting a shot on goal throughout the entire third quarter, keeping Villanova in front by a goal heading into the fourth.
"Our defense was solid," said Milhous. "And our midfielders had a great passing game."
The strong passing game would pay off for VU in the fourth quarter, as midfielder
Emma Schwarz dished a pass to de Ruijter who fired a backhanded shot into the upper corner of the goal to extend the Villanova lead to 2-0 with just 3:27 to play. De Ruijter has a team-best five goals on the season, and is now tied for 10th most all-time among Villanova players with 37.
La Salle's Zhao Rodrigo put up a pair of shots with just over a minute to play, but the Villanova back line blocked the first shot and forced the second wide, sealing the shutout win for the Wildcats.
Sears improved to 3-3 on the season after making three saves, while La Salle goalkeeper Abby Boggs made five saves as she fell to 5-1.
Up next, the Wildcats will host Georgetown in their first BIG EAST game of the season on Friday (Sept. 20) at the Conshohocken Proving Grounds. The game will begin at noon and will be streamed live on FloSports.