VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova snapped a 12-match losing streak against Georgetown to keep its unbeaten streak alive on Saturday with a 1-0 win over the Hoyas at Higgins Soccer Complex.
The win marks the eighth shutout for Villanova (8-0-3, 3-0 BIG EAST) on the year, matching last year's team total for clean sheets. The last time that the Wildcats saw themselves still unbeaten through the first 11 matches was back in 2007 when the team opened with a 7-0-4 record before facing its first loss of the season.
Aside from the unbeaten streak, the win also marked a pivotal moment in the series with Georgetown (3-4-3, 0-2-1 BIG EAST) with a couple major streaks that were snapped. The 'Cats had not seen a win in the series prior to Saturday since Oct. 19, 2012 when Villanova topped the Hoyas 1-0 at Higgins. Saturday was also the first time since Oct. 12, 2016 that Villanova scored a goal on the Hoyas, ending a 29-0 scoreless streak in matchups.
Villanova set the tone early with a gritty goal in the 12
th minute. After a Wildcat throw in that bopped around midfield,
Gabby Koluch got a foot on the ball to help the ball ahead to
Dez Zapata who put on the speed boosters to roll past a pair of Hoya defenders. She was able to run down the ball in the penalty area as she went near the six-yard box to pass the ball across the mouth of the goal to
Avrie Nelsen who was running in to let the ball play off her foot and into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.
The goal brings Nelsen to a team-high six on the year while has Zapata five assists and at least a point in four of the last five games. Nelsen had another chance to score in the 15
th minute but Reiley Fitzpatrick fell on it near the right post for the save.
Georgetown pepped on chances through the rest of the half. One of its best looks came in the 21 minute when Caroline Spengler played a ball across the box to Jocelyn Lohmeyer who immediately sent a chance toward the crossbar before it was knocked away.
In the 31
st minute, the Hoyas were awarded a free kick that Abigail Droner sent flying into the box but was grabbed by a leaping
Hannah Dickinson.
Villanova was outshot 6-4 in the first half but both sides landed two chances on frame.
Kaydee Amorosa lined up for a set piece for the 'Cats in the 53
rd minute, but her free kick bounced into the box and into the arms of Fitzpatrick, keeping the lead at one goal. Shortly after, Spengler played a danger opposite angle chance in well out from the right side of the 18 yard box that went over Dickinson's outstretched hand to hit off the inner left post but hit shy of the goal line to stay in play before being cleared away.
Georgetown's final best chance to level the contest was in the 82
nd minute as Aliza Mannon split a pair of Villanova defenders to get into the box. She sent a shot toward the net, but it was easily grabbed by Dickinson near the right post. The graduate keeper moves to 8-0-3 on the season and now has 20 shutouts in her Villanova career. She is two away from tying Janel Schillig for third on the program's career shutouts list.
Villanova was outshot for the first time this season, trailing the Hoyas 13-8 in shots. Nelsen and Spengler led their teams with three shots each while two of Nelsen's looks landed on goal.
The Wildcats are back at home on Wednesday to host Xavier. Kickoff from Higgins is set for 4 p.m.
