Aug. 28, 1999
Villanova, Pa.--- In its season and home opener on Saturday, Aug. 28, at the Villanova Soccer Stadium on the campus of Villanova University, the Villanova University women's soccer team upset the Syracuse Orangewomen, 2-1. With the victory, the Wildcats begin the season at 1-0 overall and 1-0 in the Big East Conference. Today's game was Villanova's first contest at the newly renovated 1,000-seat Villanova Soccer Stadium.
The game went scoreless in the first half, despite several good opportunities by both teams. Syracuse recorded eight shots in the game's first stanza, but Wildcat sophomore goalkeeper Janel Schillig stopped four shots to hold the Orangewomen scoreless. Villanova freshman forward Quinn Sellers had a wide open shot in the half's closing minutes, but it was saved by Syracuse goalie Riley Wagamon to send the game into the half tied at 0-0.
In the second half, the Wildcats finally broke open the scoring at the 47:11 mark. Sophomore forward Angela Scialdone took a pass from Wildcat freshman Julie Battista and blasted a shot that went off the top crossbar. Scialdone got her own rebound, however, and beat Wagamon with a shot on the left side to give Villanova a 1-0 lead.
Just over two minutes later at the 49:17 mark, Syracuse tied the game with a scoring flurry of its own. Orangewomen forward Candy Reich sent a cross into the middle that was sent out by Schillig. Syracuse's Cindy Wolf gained possession of the ball, however, and lofted a shot over the head of Schillig to tie the game at 1-1.
With the game winding down and looking to be headed to an extra session, the young Wildcats made their move. Taking a long pass from senior forward Lauren Sellers with 2:51 remaining, sophomore midfielder Jessica Painchaud pulled up around the 20-yard mark and drilled a strike past Wagamon on the left side of the net to give Villanova the 2-1 victory.
Schillig got the victory in net playing brilliantly all game long. She saved 10 total shots in the contest, including six in the decisive second half. Taking the loss in goal for Syracuse (0-1, 0-1) was Wagamon, who stopped two shots on the afternoon.
Today's victory by Villanova made up for a hard-fought 2-1 loss at the hands of the Orangewomen last season in Syracuse, N.Y. In the 1999 Big East Preseason Poll, Syracuse was picked to finish second in the Big East's Northeast Division, while the 'Cats was picked to finish sixth in the seven-team Mid-Atlantic Division.
The Wildcats will resume play on Wednesday, Sept. 1, as they play host to St. Francis at 4:30 p.m.
