Colleen Finnan
2
Winner Villanova VILLANOV (1-0, 0-0)
1
Delaware DELAWARE (0-1, 0-0)
Winner
Villanova VILLANOV
(1-0, 0-0)
2
Final
1
Delaware DELAWARE
(0-1, 0-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Villanova VILLANOV 0 1 1 0 2
Delaware DELAWARE 0 0 0 1 1

Game Recap: Field Hockey |

FH takes down Delaware in Philadelphia 2-1 in Friday’s Season Opener

Maddi Sears Collects Nine Saves in the Action

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — The Villanova field hockey team opened the season with a 2-1 victory in Philadelphia, P.A. against Delaware. 

The opening period was a tight defensive battle with both teams holding off all opportunities by the other. Villanova didn't record a shot in the period while the Blue Hens tallied five shots as well as four penalty corners.  

The second period was where the 'Cats broke open the scoring action. Esmee De Lange drove into the defense and set up Ava Borkowski for a shot. The graduate student didn't miss and blasted the shot past the goalkeeper to give Villanova its first goal of the season and jump out to a 1-0 lead five minutes into the second. Both defensive units shut down the rest of the action heading into halftime. 

Villanova kept the momentum going coming out of the break. Just three minutes into the third, Molly Zimmerman earned a penalty corner for the 'Cats. Immediate following, Gemma Lysaght's shot was blocked on the initial chance following the corner, however, she then set up Colleen Finnan for a shot that found the back of the goal to extend the lead to 2-0. The offense kept things rolling throughout the rest of the third quarter and forced three more penalty corners, but were unable to cash in on any of the chances. 

Delaware turned up the heat to start the fourth, feeling the pressure of the score deficit. The team fired off eight shots in the quarter in addition to four penalty corners. The Blue Hens found the back of the net with just under three minutes left to play in the fourth with a goal by Livia Van't Hek. The goal was assisted by Lexi Causa and Josefina Dalessandro. Delaware kept pushing the pace and found themselves up a player with a minute left. The Wildcats' defense held strong late to give Villanova the win in the season opener. 

In goal, Maddi Sears collected nine saves in the win as well as held three shutout quarters. 

Up Next: Villanova will stay on the road for a matchup against LaSalle at the Proving Grounds in Conshohocken, Pa. on Sunday, Aug. 30, at Noon. 
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