MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Nick Lucchesi sent the Villanova men's lacrosse team into the postseason with a game-winning goal in overtime on Saturday afternoon, giving the Wildcats a 16-15 victory over Marquette to clinch a BIG EAST Tournament berth.
Just like last year, the 'Cats had to come from behind to topple the Golden Eagles but got it done in the final five minutes and overtime with the junior midfielder from Radnor High eventually putting Villanova on top.
Colin Michener led the way for Villanova (6-6, 3-1 BIG EAST) with a career-high seven goals while Kessy Cox contributed two goals and an assist and Lachlan Moffatt added a pair of scores.
Luke Raymond reached 100 collegiate points in the game with a goal and career-high five assists, Ryan Martin posted a goal and a pair of helpers and Lucas Newton put forth two points on the day.
George Glomb tied a career-high with 17 faceoff wins in addition to nine ground balls, Anthony Wilson made nine saves as the winning netminder and David Evanchick totaled a game-best four caused turnovers.
Michener opened the game's scoring just over a minute into the contest, then two MU goals gave the home side an edge. The Wildcats converted on a trio of man-up chances the rest of the frame with Martin assisting both Michener and Moffatt then Newton put one home for a 4-2 VU edge after 15 minutes.
Marquette began the goals in the second before Cox scored less than a minute later, but three more MU tallies followed. Michener responded to tie it at six apiece, though the Golden Eagles answered with another trio of tallies. Raymond assisted Michener for the half's final score, making it a 9-7 VU deficit after the second quarter.
The third opened with a quick strike for Marquette then it was nearly six minutes before the next tally when Michener converted Villanova's first man-down score of the year. That started a 4-0 VU stretch as Raymond scored shortly after and then Dan Martin and Michener goals put the Wildcats ahead 11-10. But the home side wasn't done in the frame, posting the period's final two scores for a 12-11 MU lead after three.
Quarter four saw Marquette go on a 3-1 run to start it out, leading 15-12 with Moffatt's goal being the lone VU tally in that time period. With four and a half minutes remaining, R. Martin got his third goal of the season to start a run for the 'Cats. Michener tallied one less than a minute later, then it was Cox putting a shot home to tie it with 1:14 left. Villanova had a chance to end it in regulation, but a Marquette save sent the game into an extra frame.
The 'Cats won the opening faceoff of the extra period as Glomb was victorious on the clamp and scooped it back to his defensive end where Beau Kemler picked up the ground ball. After clearing and a timeout, Lucchesi dodged across the middle and made his defender slip, then buried a shot with his right hand to catapult the 'Cats into the conference tournament.
With the win, Villanova has now won 10 in a row over the Golden Eagles with three of the last four being decided by a one-goal margin.
UP NEXT: The Wildcats will have a chance to play for the number one overall seed in the BIG EAST Tournament next week, hosting the Georgetown Hoyas on Friday night at Villanova Stadium to determine the league's regular season champion.
