VILLANOVA, Pa. – There were fireworks aplenty in Villanova's home debut for the 2026 season with eight different Wildcats finding the back of the net as the Wildcats stormed past Iona 11-0 on Sunday after at Higgins Soccer Complex.
The 11 goals are tied for the second-most scored in a single game in Villanova (3-0-1) history, matching winning scores seen on Sept. 11, 2007 against Saint Peter's and Oct. 27, 2002 against Howard. With the shutout over Iona (3-1-1), Villanova has still yet to allow a goal this season through four matches.
Avrie Nelsen led the Blue and White scoring brigade with three goals, marking the first hat trick of her career.
Bella Panaccione was close by in the scoring column, nettingher first two career goals. The Wildcat offense thundered the shot tally with a 27-1 advantage, 18-0 for shots on goal.
"It's difficult to consistently raise a standard of excellence and we've seen that," head coach
Samar Azem said. "Different opponents have given us different problems to solve and the team's constantly answer the question of 'What can we do better?' phenomenally."
Villanova needed less than two minutes to get the scoring carousel turning with Nelsen making the most of a chaotic scene in net off of a corner. A couple headers off of
Kaydee Amorosa and
Morgan Kotch left the ball falling toward the goal line where the sophomore was able to get just enough contact to make it a 1-0 lead in the second minute.
Amorosa grabbed her second assist of the day in the 13
th minute with a play in the box to help Villanova to double its lead. Her shot was saved by Iona's Kayla Kalbaugh but the redirect back into play was sent arching into the net by
Isabelle Chukwu for her first collegiate goal. Four minutes later, Nelsen made her way into brace territory.
Sophia Miller booted a chance into the box that was punched away by Kalbaugh but Nelsen was nearby to knock it in for a 3-0 lead.
Gabby Koluch entered the scoring fold in the 26
th minute on a massive steal that she launched into the top right corner of the net for a 4-0 Wildcat advantage. Amorosa stuffed the stat sheet with her third and fourth points of the day in the 41
st minute.
Abby Kiil and
Ire Omotayo had passes that led to Amorosa turning a solid finish into the net near the penalty spot to make it 5-0. Just three minutes later, Panaccione scored her first collegiate goal after a lofty ball from Omotayo made its way toward the mouth of the goal where the graduate was able to bump it in for a 6-0 lead heading into the break.
Villanova commanded the game to the tune of a 15-1 shot advantage through the opening frame, forcing Kalbaugh to make four saves in that span.
"We just wanted to come out and put on a show for the people that came out and make a statement," Amorosa said.
A corner off the foot of
Abby Graul in the 63
rd minute found the head of
Meredith Palmer at the six-yard box and bounced into the back right of the net for a 7-0 Villanova advantage to open the second half scoring. In the 69
th minute, a whistle in the box sent
Amalia Cardo to the penalty spot. She converted the PK for her second goal from the spot in her career to push the Wildcats lead to 8-0. The last time she netted a penalty attempt came in the season opener against Michigan last season.
Graul picked up her second collegiate goal in the 73
rd minute on a beautiful one-timer just inside the penalty box.
Sophia Miller charged down the sideline in front of the Villanova bench with an Iona defender in tow before she sent a look into the box. That cross was headed aside by
Becca Miller before Graul launched it past Isabelle DeGiovanni to give the 'Cats a 9-0 lead, matching their previous season-high for goals.
Villanova's final two goals both came in the 78
th minute with Nelsen's hat trick coming on a redirect look into an open net after
Dez Zapata had a shot saved by DeGiovanni. Just 20 seconds later, Panaccione ripped a chance from the top of the box on another Zapata redirect for the 11-0 dagger.
Kotch and Graul led the Wildcats with four shot attempts with Graul landing two of hers on frame. All-told, 13 Wildcats had shots with nine of them taking at least two attempts. Nelsen's three shots on goal were a team high.
Villanova is back at home on Thursday as it hosts Penn at 4 p.m.
