Villanova Univeristy Athletics

COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. — The Villanova field hockey team moved 3-1 on the season after a decisive win over New Haven at Snell Field in the team's home opener on Sunday. The team had nine different players score a goal and tied for the second most goals in one game in program history. 

The 'Cats wasted no time getting the offense going. It was Colleen Finnan who scored her second goal of the season just a minute and a half into the contest to jump to a 1-0 lead. Just 45 seconds later, it was Aimee Largoza who found the back of the net to put Villanova up by two less than five minutes in. The offense kept rolling with Adie Minnella scoring her first collegiate goal to add to the lead, 3-0. The goal was assisted by Ava Borkowski, her first of the season. VU dominated offensively with 13 shots and five penalty corners in the quarter while holding the Chargers to zero shots in the quarter. 

Villanova kept pressure on in the second quarter, matching its goal total from the first quarter as well as garnering 15 shots. Early in the action, it was Erin Mitchell who found Borkowski in front of the net to push the lead up to four. The score marked Borkowski's third goal of the season as well as her third point of the game. Later on, it was once again Borkowski who was facilitating the offense. As she and Molly Zimmerman broke deep into the defensive circle of New Haven before finding Carey Werley at the top of the circle, who blasted the shot past the defense for her first goal of the season. The final goal of the period saw freshman Katharina Balks score her first collegiate goal to push the lead to 6-0 heading into the half. The goal was assisted by Aimee Largoza, her third point of the afternoon. 

The start of the third quarter saw a goalkeeper change for the 'Cats as freshman Famke Poolman saw her first action of the season. With the new change in net, Villanova still saw the constant presence of Gemma Lysaght on display as she tallied her fifth goal of the season and forced a 7-0 score. The goal was set up by the back and forth action by Maeve Boston and Esmee De Lange, each earning an assist. As time winded down in the third quarter, it was Jane Bresnahan who found Largoza for Villanova's eighth goal of the afternoon and Largoza's fifth point of the match. 

The offense kept firing in the fourth, scoring two more goals to put the Wildcats into double digits for the afternoon. Less than three minutes into the frame, Evangeline Minnella and Gemma Lysaght found Shannon Arber in front of the net for an opportunity. Arber didn't waste her chance and cashed in for her second goal of the season. While it was later Addie Foehlich who tallied the last goal of the afternoon for the 'Cats off a pass from Zimmerman to put the score to 10-0.

Both Maddi Sears and Famke Poolman combined for the shutout against the Chargers. Sears moved to 3-1 on the season while Poolman saved the only shot of the game. 

Up Next: Villanova will continue its home stand as it takes on Queens University of Charlotte back at Snell Field at Noon on Friday, September 11.