STORRS, Conn. — The Villanova field hockey team fell on the road at No. 10 UConn, 3-1, on Friday, September 18. The loss drops the team to 5-2 on the season and 0-1 in BIG EAST conference play.
Ava Borkowski tallied the only goal of the afternoon for the Wildcats, pushing her total to eight on the season and her point total to a team high, 18. Aimee Largoza collected the assist on Borkowski's goal, moving her assist mark to three and her points total to seven.
In the opening period, it was UConn who jumped out to the fast start. Tallying two quick shots within the first three minutes of play. The first, a shot by Abby Davidson, as well as the second shot by Ellie Goldstein were saved by Maddi Sears. Villanova then found some momentum with a penalty corner midway through the action. Molly Zimmerman found Carey Werley for the chance but her shot went wide. The Huskies garnered one last shot in the quarter, however, both sides went into the second scoreless.
UConn began to find its footing and capitalized on more of its opportunities throughout the second quarter. The Huskies totaled six shots and two goals in the frame. In the first 11 minutes of action, Sears and VU's defense turned away all three of UConn's shots in addition to Sears collecting two saves in the process. The Huskies then earned their second penalty of the game with less than three minutes to go. It was then Lucy Zich who put the Huskies on the board first. Immediately following, UConn went back on the attack and found Ellie Goldstein for the goal to put the team up 2-0 heading into halftime.
Villanova started hot following the break, where it was Adie Minnella who drove into the defense and fired a shot that went wide. The Huskies then settled in and rattled off three shots as well as three straight penalty corners that came with 10 minutes left. All three chances were shut down, however, the team earned a penalty stroke. On the try, it was Maddi Sears who made the diving stop to keep the score 2-0. The save marked With its newfound sense of momentum, it was Aimee Largoza who drove into the defensive circle and found Ava Borkowski. The graduate student dove to her left and fired the ball past the goalkeeper to cut the lead down to one, 2-1.
The Wildcats kept its momentum rolling heading into the fourth, however, it was UConn who held off each of VU's opportunities. With just over three minutes to go, Villanova pulled its goalie to look for the extra attacker for the equalizer. The Huskies held strong and later notched a penalty corner goal by Zich, her second of the afternoon, to stop the comeback try from the 'Cats.
Up Next: Villanova will return home Sunday, September 20, for a 12 p.m. contest against Drexel from Snell Field at Ursinus. The 'Cats will celebrate its UNITAS game in the action with the Dragons.
