LEWISBURG, Pa. — The Villanova water polo team won two games at the Bucknell Invite in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania Saturday.
The 'Cats (6-4) now hold a winning record on the season with the two wins.
VU's day started with a 25-8 win over Occidental (0-5).
Villanova's 25 goals were the second most in a single game in program history, only trailing a 26-3 win over Penn State Behrend on Feb. 24, 2019.
The 'Cats also broke the points record in a single game record with 25 goals and 21 assists (46 points), beating the previous record of 44 points, set on March 30, 2019 versus Penn State Behrend.
VU's 21 assists were the second most in a single game in program history, one short of tying the program record, which was also set in the March 30, 2019 game versus Penn State Behrend.
In the contest,
Riley Hull scored four times, which got the sophomore to the 100-goal threshold in her career in just her second season on the Main Line.
Team goal leader on the season,
Ella Mattocks, scored six goals in the contest, leading VU.
Annika Wise,
Emmie Mallory and
Tessa Pettit scored three goals each.
Tippy Maguire and
Anna Painter added two goals each to their tallies, while
Isabel Foley rounded out scorers on the day with a goal.
Villanova picked up 17 steals in the game, led by Painter and
Catharine McCann, who both had three each. The 17 steal tally was the most this season for the 'Cats.
Gracin Kerry saved three attempts on the day and exited after the first quarter after the 'Cats took a 10-0 lead into the second.
Reia Kimi played the rest of the game in net, saving a career-high seven attempts and giving up eight goals.
Villanova led 16-3 at halftime. Following the break, the 'Cats cruised to a win, outscoring the Tigers 9-5 in the second half.
VU came back to beat Saint Francis (2-2) 16-11 in the nightcap.
Hull and
Layla Canales led the 'Cats in goals, scoring four each. Painter followed with three and Maguire,
Sara Withers, Mallory and Mattocks rounded out the Villanova scorers in the game.
Hull and Painter also were key defensively, picking up four steals each. Hull also forced a season-high five exclusions.
Painter and
Isabel Foley picked up three assists each against the Red Flash.
Saint Francis led at halftime 8-4 after scoring four goals in the first and second quarters.
The second half saw Villanova change the tide of the game, scoring seven goals in the third quarter to take an 11-10 lead. The 'Cats pulled away in the fourth quarter, scoring five goals to the Red Flash's one and taking their sixth victory of the year.
Rachel Stephens played all four quarters in net, saving four attempts in 15 chances.
Up Next
VU closes its weekend at the Bucknell Invitational with a matchup against Siena at 11:40 a.m. Sunday.
