Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - In a game that featured six ties and several lead changes, the Villanova Wildcats dropped a local BIG EAST Conference matchup to the Temple Owls 13-11 on Saturday afternoon at Howarth Field.

The Wildcats (3-9, 1-4 BIG EAST) led the Owls (11-2, 4-1) the majority of the game, but could not stop a late 5-2 surge by Temple in the final 12 and a half minutes of the game. The Owls were receiving votes in the latest Inside Lacrosse Poll.

Villanova boasted a balanced offense, as freshmen Carlin Isaacson, Liz Trojan, and Kim McDonough each notched a pair of goals. Katie Comerford, Grainger Rosati, Maggie Jennings, Catherine Bendinelli and Kaitlyn Rau each added a score in the loss.

The Owls struck first with 22:26 in the first half, and added to its lead just under a minute and a half later on a free position attempt to take an early 2-0 advantage.

Villanova responded with an impressive 5-0 run, as five different Wildcats found the back of the net to take a 5-2 lead with 6:35 left in the first frame. Temple converted on a man-up opportunity to score for the first time in over 21 minutes to end the Wildcats scoring streak.

Villanova lengthened its lead to 6-3 after Trojan faked a high shot and finished low in front of the net with 1:14 left in the first half, but Temple added a score with just 42 seconds in the half, as the Wildcats took a 6-4 advantage into the intermission.

The Owls cut Villanova's lead to one less than three minutes into the second half on a man up free position shot and later tied the game at 6-6 with 25:21 left in the second half.

Following a Villanova timeout, the Wildcats regrouped as Isaacson found Kaitlyn Rau in front of the net as Villanova regained the lead at 7-6 with 24:06 left in the contest, but the Owls responded with a goal less than two minutes later to tie the game at 7-7.

Villanova would not let Temple take the lead however, as Isaacson's free position attempt was successful with 17:07 remaining in the second half. The Owls followed with a free position goal of their own to knot the score at 8-8 with 16:48 left.

Once again Villanova retook the lead as McDonough marked her second score of the game on a pass from Rosati, but the Owls tied the game on another free position goal at 12:26 remaining. Temple added another score with 9:11 left in the game to take its first lead since 14:32 in the first half.

Villanova called its second timeout of the half, as the Wildcats tied the game on the ensuing possession when Isaacson struck gold on a free position opportunity. Momentum swung in Temple's favor after the goal however, as Rosati was called for an illegal stick. During the two minute un-releasable penalty, the Owls logged two man-up scores to take a 12-10 advantage with 5:47 left in the contest.

Freshman Maggie Jennings put the Wildcats within one with 4:27 left, but the Owls notched their sixth free position goal on the day with 2:35 remaining. The Owls added an insurance goal late to win their fourth straight game.

Today's game marked the fifth-straight matchup between the Wildcats and Owls that was decided by three goals or less.

The Wildcats will complete their two-game road trip in the Sunshine State against the No. 3 Florida Gators on Wednesday afternoon. First draw is set for 1:00 p.m at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.