VILLANOVA, Pa. – A balanced effort on both sides of the pitch for Villanova brought a 2-0 win over George Mason on Thursday afternoon at Higgins Soccer Complex.
This is the second consecutive shutout win of the year for Villanova (2-2), posting a stout 25-2 shot differential in the victory, 9-2 for shots on frame. The 25 shots are the most among BIG EAST teams this season and mark the most for the program since 2018 group attempted 27 against Siena.
Morgan Kotch and
Avrie Nelsen each scored a goal, making seven and two shot attempts, respectively. They were two of the six Wildcats to attempt at least two shots on the afternoon. Kotch's seven chances were the most by a Wildcat since Jackie Richards made eight shot attempts against Marquette on Oct. 15, 2023.
Between the pipes,
Hannah Dickinson moved to 2-2 on the year, saving both of the chances George Mason (0-3-1) landed on frame for her eighth solo shutout as a Wildcat.
"This was an exciting game to watch out players really come into their own" Villanova head coach
Samar Azem said. "Their speed of play, their decisiveness on the ball. George Mason is a really well-organized team. Defensively, they're really smart about what they do and where they want you to have space and time. Our players were so definitive about what they wanted to create, what they wanted to do and how they wanted to do it together. Just really, really proud."
Junior
Gabby Koluch and Kotch had Villanova's first real scoring chances in the first half. In the 12
th minute, Koluch sent a rocket from just above the 18-yard box that Libby Davy was able to stop near the left post before falling on it to keep a charging
Hannah Curtin from scoring. Kotch's opportunity came in the 38
th minute when the sophomore picked up a pass from
Olivia Neal near the penalty spot. Her sliding attempt forced Davy into a kick save to keep the match scoreless.
Villanova held a 10-2 shot advantage through the opening 45 minutes. George Mason had three consecutive corner kicks between the 44
th and 51
st minutes that sailed near the mouth of the net but were each grabbed by a leaping Dickinson.
Kotch broke the scoreless contest in the 67
th minutes thanks to a timely pass from
Alex Little. The junior raced into open space near the right of the 18-yard box where she sent a cross inside to a darting Kotch. The sophomore needed just one touch near the right post to launch the ball into the back left of the net for a 1-0 lead. That goal marked the first for Kotch since August 28, 2025.
A trio of deflections in the 85
th minute led to Villanova's final goal.
George Mason turned over the ball deep in Villanova's end of the field, leading to Little getting the ball and sending a sharp look that was blocked by a defender. Another deflection brought an open ball that Nelsen ran to, launching it past a diving Davy and into the net for the 2-0 dagger and the first goal of her career.
Villanova outshot George Mason 15-0 in the second half. Ariana Reyes and Molly Starner accounted for both Patriot chances, landing both on goal during the contest.
Villanova hits the road to Lewisburg, Pennsylvania to take on Bucknell Sunday at 1 p.m.
