OMAHA, Neb. – Villanova withstood a late comeback attempt by Creighton to remain unbeaten, taking down the Bluejays 2-1 on Wednesday at Morrison Stadium.
With the win, Villanova (7-0-3, 2-0 BIG EAST) now matches last year's winning output with their seventh victory of the season. It also marks the 100
th win of head coach
Samar Azem's career, picking up her 29
th with the Wildcats.
"Creighton is a tough team; they're a physical team," Azem said. "It was a super, super direct game. We wanted to control the tempo and it was very different than a lot of the games that we've seen this season. I'm just really proud of our team because, as the season goes, you want to have your own identity and then you also want to establish layers onto that identity and be able to be adaptable. I thought there were a lot of things in the game that our players did that showed they're capable of doing that."
The Wildcats built a 2-0 lead in the first half, but Creighton (4-4-2, 0-1-1 BIG EAST) applied pressure late to get within one in the final 10 minutes of action for just the third goal allowed by the Wildcat defense this season.
Avrie Nelsen opened up Villanova's first chance at scoring in the sixth minute with a shot that was blocked.
Dez Zapata was nearby in the box to get the redirect that she sent into the net but a subsequent review ruled a handball to award Creighton a free kick.
Kaydee Amorosa booted in the breakthrough shot for the 'Cats that gave them the lead in the 14
th minute.
Gabby Koluch lined up for a corner kick for the Blue and White that she sent sailing into the box. After bouncing around between players a bit, Amorosa got a hold of it to send in a one-timer that got past a trio of defenders and into the back of the net for a 1-0 advantage.
The goal marked the fourth of the season for the sophomore midfielder.
Creighton tried to get an answer in the 17
th minute. Anna Bragg attempted a shot that
Ambyr Baker blocked before Bragg tried another attempt that
Hannah Dickinson saved near the penalty spot that Villanova cleared away.
Isabelle Chukwu took matters into her own hands in the 39
th minute with her second goal of the season.
After a clearance from Dickinson that bounced around near midfield, the junior forward took control and made her way toward the box. She bypassed defenders on the way and rocketed a shot from the inside top line of the 18-yard box for a 2-0 lead.
Villanova led shots 7-4 in the opening half, 5-2 for chances on frame.
In the 57
th minute, Creighton's Gabby Wagenfuhr picked up a short pass near midfield to attempt a breakaway chance. She took a shot from nearly 25 yards that Dickinson was able to grab, keeping the lead at two. She had another chance in the 63
rd minute that Dickinson once again saved.
Creighton cut the lead in half in the 81
st minute on a corner kick. The set piece sailed into the box where Dickinson was able to get a hand on it at the top of the six-yard box before it fell back into play. Taylor Yablonski quickly nudged it ahead where Radleigh Childers was able to get a follow-up chance past a trio of Wildcats to make it a 2-1 game.
Koluch had a launching free kick in the 84
th minute that she angled toward the upper 90 but was grabbed near the left post by Morgan Paley. With four seconds left, Creighton took one last chance to level the match but Sarah Hyde's shot sailed high over the net as time expired.
The shot total leaned in favor of Villanova 12-9, 6-5 for shots on goal.
Bella Panaccione led all players with a career-high four shots, one of those on goal. Bragg let the way for Creighton at two shots.
In goal, Dickinson moves to 7-0-3 on the year, making four saves in the win. Paley was called on for four saves, as well.
Villanova is back at home Saturday to host Georgetown for Youth Day and Breast Cancer Awareness Day. Kickoff from Higgins Soccer Complex is set for 4 p.m.
