VILLANOVA, Pa. – The nonconference slate ended on Sunday afternoon as Villanova posted a 1-1 draw against Princeton on Senior Day at Higgins Soccer Complex.
The result keeps Villanova (5-0-3) unbeaten with the Wildcats allowing just their second goal of the season. They are outscoring their opponents 26-2 through the first eight games. The last time Villanova allowed that few of goals to this point of the year was back in 2007 when the team was 6-0-2 by the eighth game of the season with a 23-2 goal differential. That team went on to be 7-0-4 before facing its first loss in a season that saw it finish 11-4-6 and made it to the quarterfinals of the BIG EAST Tournament.
"It was a touch Princeton team that we played today," head coach
Samar Azem said. "I felt like earlier on we could've finished the game, but then the tables switched and at the end, the team defended so hard and so tough together. At the end of the day, we're finishing up nonconference unbeaten, two goals against, 26 goals for. That's not easy to do."
Princeton needed just 10 and a half minutes to get on the board. Stella Monberg played a long ball in from midfield that Dylan Jovanovic corralled to take toward the penalty box. She sent a chance through two Wildcat defenders and past a diving
Hannah Dickinson for a 1-0 lead.
That marked the first time all season that Villanova has trailed.
The 'Cats had a solid chance of answering in the 39
th minute when
Meghan White crossed a look in that
Morgan Kotch had a quick touch on in the air, but it was saved by Cecilia Cerone.
In the 42
nd minute, Villanova found the break it needed that started with a strong steal from
Isabelle Chukwu at midfield. The junior forward sent the ball ahead to a wide open
Dez Zapata who made her way into the penalty area and rocketed a chance toward the net that Cerone couldn't get a hand on, leveling the match at 1-1.
The goal brings Zapata to two on the year while Zapata is now tied for second-most assists on the team this year at three.
By the halftime break, Villanova was leading shots 7-3, 4-1 for shots on goal.
Sophia Miller tried to give Villanova its first lead on a dead-on shot from the top of the box. Her shot went toward an outstretched Sydney Romano who entered in goal for the Tigers in the second half but hit off the crossbar before falling on the ball to stop a redirect near the post.
Shortly after, Dickinson saved Princeton's best chance at taking another lead in the second half when Kayla Wong booted a shot from inside the 18-yard box. The graduate grabbed the ball near the right post to keep things tied. Princeton had another shot in the 79
th minute from Alexandra Barry but it rocketed off the woodwork and back into the play where Nina Canor was unable to get a follow-up shot near the net. The 88
th minute brought another glance off the post for the Tigers, this time from Jovanovic just inside the penalty area that went out of bounds.
Villanova and Princeton each had 11 shots on the day with shots on goal leaning in favor of the Blue and White at 4-2. Kotch led all players with four attempts, two of those on frame. Jovanovic led Princeton with three attempts, one on frame.
BIG EAST play opens for Villanova on September 26 to close out this six-game home stretch. Kickoff against St. John's is set for 4 p.m. at Higgins.
