Wildcats Fall to Xavier in BIG EAST Semifinals
Omaha, Neb. The #4 Villanova Wildcats season came to an end Thursday night following a 2-0 loss to the #1 Xavier Musketeers in the BIG EAST Tournament Semifinals.
The Musketeers found the back of the goal early in both halves. Their first goal came in the 15th minute when Rachel Dewey crossed a pass into the center of the box and Carrie Lewis tapped the shot into the opposite corner for put Xavier up 1-0. The second came in the 47th minute when Hayley Jakovich got the second shot off a free kick to go into the back of the goal.
"Tough game to lose, the average amount of shots that Xavier gives up is in the low single digits," shared head coach Chris McLain. "No one has even had 10 shots in any single game against them. For us, taking 18 shots showed that we had a great game plan and our players were ready to play. I personally was more impressed we held them to only 8 shots. Unfortunately, that's all they needed."
Villanova led in shots though taking 18 to Xavier's eight. The Wildcats were able to place five of those shots on goal including four of them in the second half.
Makayla Stadler took Villanova's shot on goal in the first half. The rookie was able to take a pass that came over her shoulder and place it strongly on goal.
Shaye Seyffart got a shot off in the 64th minute that she placed right below the crossbar but Oliva Jenkins was able to get a hand on it to push the ball over and out of play. Villanova's leading scorer on the season Brice McInroy placed one on frame off her left foot while Grace Karagjozi went one-on-one with Jenkins and ripped a shot straight on that was saved. Sam Rosette took the Wildcats final shot on goal in the 87th minute.
McLain continued, "Gutted for these players, they have faced so much adversity this season. We lost so many great players to injury this season and our players just kept rising to that challenge. What these players have done to raise this program back into the conversation of being a top team in this league is nothing short of remarkable."
This was Villanova's first trip to the BIG EAST Semifinals since 2004 and their first double digit win season since 2009.
"These seniors have so much to be proud of. They did this," said McLain. "They built this, and they now enabled our underclassman to experience this Big East tourney. This is something they never got as a young player and now we can build off that gift. These seniors are special and I'm proud, as is our staff, that we did this alongside of them."
All-Tournament Team: Following Sunday's championship game senior captains Kristin Barbour and Conner Huggins were named to the All-BIG EAST Tournament Team. In the BIG EAST Semifinals Huggins led the Wildcats with three shots while Barbour took one. Both this season helped lead the Wildcats back to the conference tournament and reach double digit wins.
