NORFOLK, Va. — The Villanova field hockey team fell on the road to Old Dominion, 4-3, in overtime on Friday, October 9. The loss drops the team to 7-5 on the season and 2-2 in BIG EAST conference play.
Gemma Lysaght opened the scoring just under five minutes into the frame and was assisted by Maeve Boston and Molly Zimmerman. Just over five minutes later, Adie Minnella earned a penalty and converted for her fourth goal of the year. Colleen Finnan finished up the scoring for VU with her sixth goal of the season. Maeve Boston collected two assists in the action, pushing her total to 11 on the year.
In the first quarter, Villanova started out clicking on all cylinders and scored two goals in the first quarter. The 'Cats' first chance came from a penalty corner by Molly Zimmerman with just under five minutes into the frame. On the try, Zimmerman found Maeve Boston, who set up Gemma Lysaght for the goal. The goal by Lysaght marked her eighth of the season and put VU up 1-0. Villanova continued the pressure, outshooting its opponent five to two. Later in the quarter, the 'Cats found themselves in the circle before being fouled for a penalty stroke. Adie Minnella was the one who attempted the chance, and she cashed for her second penalty stroke goal of the season to put Villanova up 2-0 at the end of the first.
The Wildcats continued their momentum to open the second, tallying five shots within the first 10 minutes as well as a penalty corner. Unfortunately, VU couldn't capitalize on any of the chances and kept the score at 2-0. That was until ODU got a penalty corner of its own and converted the try on a goal by Serena Langendoen to cut the lead down to one, 2-1, heading into halftime.
The Monarchs continued their momentum throughout the third quarter as the team outshot Villanova six to one as well as tallied four penalty corners. Villanova held up for most of the quarter, shutting down all four of the penalty corners and even tallied one of its own. ODU did stop the try by VU and quickly turned defense into offense to tie the game at 2-2 with a goal by Sofia Marciano with just under 30 seconds left.
With their newfound sense of energy, Old Dominion continued to keep pushing the pace and found its first lead of the game just over two minutes into the fourth. Isabella DeCasaris found Lotte Haagmans for the goal to put ODU up 3-2. Villanova didn't let the scoring deficit break them and found themselves pushing the intensity onto the Monarchs, earning a penalty corner. On the try, Boston found Aimee Largoza, who set up Colleen Finnan for the goal to knot the score back at three apiece. The assist marked Boston's second of the day and 11th of the season. Both sides held strong the rest of the way and the game went into overtime.
At the start of overtime, it was largely a defensive battle with neither side finding any chances throughout the initial action. Old Dominion found its footing and fired off a goal by Haagmans for her second of the day to give the Monarchs the win, 4-3. The loss dropped Villanova to 7-5 on the season and 2-2 in conference play.
Up Next: Villanova will return home for its senior day on Sunday, October 11, at 12 p.m. from E.F. Snell Field at Ursinus. The game will be streamed on Villanova's YouTube Channel.
