PHILADELPHIA — The Villanova field hockey team fell on the road to Penn, 3-0, on Sunday, October 4. The loss moves the team's record to 7-4 overall this season and snaps a two game win streak.
Penn quickly got its offense rolling in the first quarter, scoring two goals and outshooting Villanova six to four. The first goal came less than five minutes into the game, when it was Reese Czajkowski who put the Quakers up one. Villanova didn't get deterred and quickly earned a penalty corner and fired off three shots of its own, which were all turned away. Immediately following, the 'Cats once again forced a chance but were again held off the scoreboard. On the other hand, Penn earned two penalty corners of their own just a minute later. Its first chance garnered two shots, but the second earned the team a goal by Riley Thompson to push the score to 2-0 heading into the second quarter.
The Quakers kept their momentum going heading into the second half, once again outshooting VU, four to two. Just under four minutes into the frame, Penn fired off two quick shots that were each saved by Maddi Sears. The shots did earn a penalty corner for the Quakers, tallying one shot, before collecting two more penalty corners and one additional shot. Villanova did earn a penalty corner of its own midway through the action but couldn't capitalize on the chance. Both sides only tallied one additional shot for the final seven minutes of the frame to keep the score 2-0 heading into the break.
The first half of the third quarter saw both defenses hold strong, not allowing a shot or any action during that time. Feeling the pressure, Villanova had a strong finish to the third quarter, forcing four shots and holding Penn to just zero. Ava Borkowski drove deep into the defense and tallied a shot that went wide; however, she did earn herself and VU a penalty corner. On the try, both Colleen Finnan and Katharina Balks forced a shot but couldn't find the back of the goal. Later in the action, Villanova once again earned a penalty corner, where it was Gemma Lysaght whose shot went wide before the period ended. Villanova found itself still down two heading into the final 15 minutes.
The start of the fourth was much like the third, where it was the defenses standing tall throughout the initial chunk of the frame. It was then Penn who broke open the first chance with a penalty corner, which forced a shot by Riley Thompson that was saved. Villanova then decided to pull Sears with just over five minutes left in the quarter to try and give themselves the player advantage. Unfortunately, the gamble didn't work as Victoria Manzur and Lucy Mangat set up Emma Nahon for an empty-net goal to break the game open and give Penn the 3-0 win.
Up Next: Villanova will stay on the road for a BIG EAST match up with Old Dominion on Friday, October 9, at 1 p.m. before coming home to host Hofstra on Sunday, October 11, at 12 p.m..
