UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Villanova field hockey team fell on the road at Penn State, 2-0, on Friday, September 4, falling to 2-1 overall on the season.
The opening period was a tight defensive battle with both teams holding the other to just one shot each. The Villanova defense held the Nittany Lions shotless for 12 minutes of play before allowing one by Natalie Freeman. Neither side could capitalize on their lone shot and headed into the second period with the score 0-0.
The defensive intensity stayed the same throughout the second quarter, however, Penn State picked up the pressure offensively. The Nittany Lions outshot the 'Cats 3-1 and tallied the game's first penalty corner to that point. Goalkeeper Maddi Sears collected one save in addition to VU's defense turning away the other two.
Penn State got things going offensively in the third, tallying six shots and two penalty corners compared to the Wildcats' two shots and one penalty corner respectively. The Nittany Lions' opened the scoring with Freeman scoring her second goal of the season to open a 1-0 advantage. Following the goal, the 'Cats generated a penalty corner and rattled off two shots. One by Gemma Lysaght and the other by Ava Borkowski, but couldn't capitalize on either.
Villanova, despite the score deficit, turned up the intensity late and got its own offensive going. The team garnered six shots and two penalty corners. Forward Aimee Largoza fired off two shots deep into Penn State's defensive circle early in the fourth. The offensive unit followed up the early chances with back-to-back penalty corners where all four shots were denied. The Nittany Lions added on late with a goal by Josephine Purdy to take a 2-0 lead.
Up Next: Villanova will host New Haven for its home opener at Snell Field Hockey Field in Collegesville, Pa., on Sunday, September 6, at 12:00 p.m.
