VILLANOVA, Pa. — The Villanova water polo team lost to No. 8 Harvard 18-8 Sunday to conclude the Wildcat Invite. 

The 'Cats (4-4) finished 2-2 on the weekend.

Gracin Kerry started all four quarters in goal for Villanova, saving five attempts and giving up 18 goals. 

A tightly contested first quarter saw only three goals for either team as the Crimson took a 2-1 lead into the second quarter. Riley Hull scored in the closing moments of the quarter to get the 'Cats on the board. 

Harvard began to pull away in the second quarter scoring eight goals to Villanova's one, which was scored by Coco Jones. 

VU kept the deficit at eight in the third quarter, scoring four goals. 

Annika Wise began the scoring in the quarter for the 'Cats, followed by two goals for Sara Withers. Jones scored her second of the day and fourth of the weekend on a penalty in the waning seconds of the third. 

The Crimson closed their win with two goals in the fourth quarter to VU's two. Tessa Pettit scored the final goal of the day for the 'Cats, her 12th of the season. 

Notably on the weekend, leading goal scorer Ella Mattocks (20) led the team with 12 goals on the weekend. Mattocks drew five exclusions against Harvard Sunday to lead the team. 

Up Next

Villanova heads up to Lewisburg, Pa. to play in the Bucknell Invite Feb. 14-15, taking on Occidental, Saint Francis and Siena.