STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Villanova field hockey wrapped up its non-conference schedule with a 3-1 road win over Wagner on Sunday. The win moves VU's record to 10-6 overall and finishes the season with a 7-4 non-conference record.
Evangeline Minnella opened the scoring for the Cats in the first quarter with her first goal of the season. Katharina Balks picked up the assist on the first goal, then found the net for her own goal, her fourth. Jane Bresnahan set up Balks on the goal for her third assist of the season. Adie Minnella wrapped up the scoring with her sixth goal of the season, with Emma Foscarini tallying her first assist of the season.
Villanova started out hot in the first quarter with two quick penalty corners less than a minute into the frame. On the first, Colleen Finnan had her shot saved, while shots by Gemma Lysaght and Addie Froehlich were both turned away by the defense. Wagner responded with a penalty corner of its own, but both shots were saved by Maddi Sears. Following the chance, Villanova continued to push and operate inside the Seahawks' end of the field. VU finally broke onto the scoreboard when it was Katharina Balks who sent a shot into the circle that was batted into the net by Evangeline Minnella for her first goal of the season. The Wildcats kept pushing with a late penalty corner but couldn't convert to head into the second quarter up 1-0.
The 'Cats kept their momentum rolling into the second and doubled their lead, with Balks once again making plays. This time it was the freshman scoring her fourth goal of the year, with Jane Bresnahan setting up the opportunity. Both sides then traded possessions throughout the middle of the quarter, with neither side finding chances besides on a penalty corner by Wagner. That was until the Seahawks earned three straight penalty corners with under two minutes left. Wagner found the goal on the third try by Floortje Leunisse to cut the lead to 2-1 at half.
Villanova didn't let the goal deter them and went right back on the attack and controlled the pace offensively. Midway through the quarter, Ava Borkowski and the Villanova offense drove into Wagner's circle and earned a penalty stroke that couldn't be converted. Immediately following, VU forced a turnover, and Emma Foscarini fired a centering feed towards the goal that was redirected by Adie Minnella to extend the lead back up to two. It was Minnella's sixth goal of the season and Foscarini's first assist of her career. Villanova controlled possession the rest of the quarter to head into the fourth up 3-1.
The 'Cats controlled a largely defensive final quarter where both teams only tallied one combined shot. Colleen Finnan tallied the lone shot a minute into the quarter but was saved by Wagner's Mia DiGenova. Villanova controlled the majority of the possession throughout the frame while playing standout defense to hold Wagner to no shots. As the time wound down, the 'Cats held possession to give them the 3-1 win and move their record to 10-6 on the season.
In net, Maddi Sears collected her tenth win of the season to set a new career high. She finished with three saves to move her season total to 72 and a season total of a .766 save percentage.
Up Next: Villanova will return home for its regular season finale with a crucial BIG EAST battle against Liberty on Friday, October 30, at 12 p.m.
