Villanova Univeristy Athletics

First Half Goals Lift Villanova Past Cornell

9/5/2021

Villanova, Pa.- The Villanova Wildcats picked up their fifth straight win of the season on Sunday afternoon when they defeated the Cornell Big Red 2-0.  This is the best start for the Wildcats since the 2008 season.

"Without question I am happy for the program to be 5-0 for the first time since 2008," shared head coach Chris McLain.  "Credit to these players and our coaching staff for their preparation and dedication to getting the work done on and off the field. Rarely do you get a week to prepare for an opponent. Our players knew exactly what tendencies Cornell was looking to do, but when they changed their system, our players adopted well and did what they needed to do to win the game."

Villanova got their first goal in the opening minutes when Emma Weaver played a free kick a few yards outside the box low and to the right for Chloe O'Neill.  There the senior was able to get a touch on it and cross her shot to put the Wildcats up 1-0. The Wildcat's offense clicked against the Big Red, out shooting them 15-7 on the day and 10-1 in the first half. 

Just minutes after O'Neill's goal both Francesca Yanchuk and Susanna Soderman  placed shot on goal while Reagan Smith sent a shot wide right.  Megan Donnelly  also got a strong shot off as well as Soderman again, but both were saved by Erica Fox. 

A yellow card in the box on Cornell's Sophie Weeter's gave the Villanova a penalty kick.  Brice McInroy  took the shot in the 36th minute for the Wildcats and was able to connect and make it 2-0. 

"Looking at the players eyes after the game, I could tell they were frustrated because they knew we could've preformed a little bit better. They're hungry and they want to prove that they are a great team. They know we will have to play a lot better to in order to beat our next opponent, Virginia Tech, but I know that these players are ready to rise to the occasion."

In the second half Megan McClay came up with two saves and the team also came up for a save on a header off a corner to shut out Cornell. Maddie Fried and Yanchuk had strong shots on goal in the second half that were saved by Fox.

"Although Reagan Smith didn't score today, we, as a team, recognized her as the player of the game. The work she does on and off the ball was top shelf and her senior leadership was on display."

Villanova next will travel to Virginia to take on Virginia Tech on Thursday.  Kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 P.M.    

Women’s Soccer Drops Friday Afternoon Matchup to Virginia Tech, 3-0

9/7/2018

Chester, Pa.- Inside Talen Energy Stadium on Friday afternoon the Villanova Wildcats (4-3) fell to the Virginia Tech Hokies (3-1-3) by a final of 3-0.

The Wildcats and Hokies had a scoreless first half.  Villanova goalkeeper Rebecca Gartner made five saves in the first 45 minutes, including one huge in the 28th minute when Molly Feighan was one-on-one with the redshirt senior.  Gartner was able to come out and jump right onto the shot to keep the game tied.

Villanova got two quick shots off in the second half, Bri Austin placed one wide and Chloe O'Neill placed hers on goal and it was saved by Virginia Tech's keeper.  It was in the 58th minute when the Hokies got on the board first off a corner taken by Emily Gray.  She placed her kick into the middle of the box where Kelsey Irwin was able to head the ball into the goal.

In the 72nd minute Villanova got a free kick just outside the box and Jasmine Ruiz took the shot for the Wildcats.  Ruiz's shot went high over the far corner.  Just a few minutes later Lily Weber picked off a pass and drove to the right corner and pass the ball into side of the box where Mikayla Mance was.  Mance crossed the ball to Karlie Johnson who was just three yards away from the goal and tipped it in. 

Irwin would score her second goal of the game in the 86th minute off a free kick 30 yards out.  Her shot was able to bend into the top just under the bar to make the final 3-0 Virginia Tech.

Gartner in her first full career game for Villanova had a total of six saves. 

Next the Wildcats will travel down Lancaster to take on the Saint Joseph's Hawks Thursday night under the lights.  Kickoff is set for 7:00 P.M. and can be seen on ESPN+.   
 

Wildcats Tie Team Mark with Sixth Straight Shutout, Defeat Colgate 3-0

9/19/06

VILLANOVA, Pa. - A goal with just 24 seconds remaining in the first half got Villanova (9-0) going offensively and the Wildcats tied a program record with their sixth straight shutout in a 3-0 victory over Colgate (6-2) on Tuesday afternoon at the West Campus Soccer Complex. Villanova extended the best start in program history with the victory and remained one of just seven Division I teams in the nation that are unbeaten and untied this season.

Facing a stern test in their final non-conference game of the season, the Wildcats got on the board in the closing seconds of the first half. Junior Kayce Blandford (Columbia, Md.) sent a long ball over the center line and sophomore Nicole Coia (Simpsonville, S.C.) picked it up on the right side of the field. With momentum in the Wildcats favor, Coia one-timed a blast from 20 yards to the left corner of the net.

Villanova appeared to pick up energy from a younger lineup that was on the field to start the second half and added a goal in the 59th minute to go ahead by two goals. Coia was involved in the play once again, as she beat a defender to a ball along the back line and crossed it towards the goal. Freshman Erin Byrnes (Sayville, N.Y.) was there to head the ball into the net for her second goal of the season.

Junior Nikki Mabery (Phoenix, Ariz.) scored her 10th goal of the season in the 89th minute, taking a pass from senior Lindsey Finnegan (Blackwood, N.J.) on the right side and scoring on her second touch from in front of the net. The goal made Mabery the first Villanova player since 2001 to have at least 10 goals in a season.

Offensive chances were aplenty for both teams in the game and the Wildcats owned a slim 19-16 shot advantage over the Raiders. Colgate had a shot from point-blank range in the 70th minute bang off the left post and a direct kick from just outside the box in the 85th minute that went high of the net. The composure of Villanova's defensive line withstood the heavy pressure however, extending its shutout streak to nearly 600 minutes.

Junior goalkeeper Jillian Loyden (Vineland, N.J.) registered her fifth solo shutout of the season and 19th of her career, making five saves and extending her own shutout streak to 556:30. She now owns a miniscule 0.12 goals-against average for the season and a .971 save percentage through the first nine contests.

Raider forward Franny Iacuzzi led all players with five shots in the game and Colgate maintained pressure with five corner kicks for the game and 10 shots in the second half. Kelly Niland put the ball into the box that Iacuzzi hit off the post in the 70th minute.

Brittany Pearsall and Carly Sousa shared time in the net for the Raiders and combined to make seven saves.

Villanova has a pair of challenging BIG EAST games on the schedule for this weekend. First up is a home matchup against Seton Hall on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. The Pirates are currently 4-4 and claim a victory over No. 21 Virginia at the Cavaliers home field. On Sunday the Wildcats will visit Rutgers for a 6 p.m. matchup against the Scarlet Knights, who were chosen to finish second in the BIG EAST National Division this season.