Box Score PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Villanova women's lacrosse team faced the Temple Owls on Wednesday, Apr. 17 where it defeated the former BIG EAST foe, 13-8 and garnered its third all-time victory. The Wildcats improve to 9-6 overall and remain 2-1 in conference play, while the Owls fall to 4-10 and remain 1-2 in the American Conference.
Villanova got the ball rolling early in the first half with a
Katie Comerford pass to
Brittany Bruno just over a minute into play. Temple quickly answered back with a goal of their own and the scored was tied 1-1 with only two and a half minutes off the clock.
The Wildcats and Owls battled back and forth until Bruno and
Nicole Concannon scored two unanswered goals for Villanova. Bruno found her way past Maryn Lowell in the net after receiving a pass from
Liz Trojan and Concannon converted on a free-position shot put the 'Cats up 3-1.
Temple was able to keep control on Villanova's defensive end and eventually cut the lead back to one. Head coach
Julie Young called a time out on a Wildcat fast break after a few more offensive opportunities from the Owls.
Junior attach,
Ashley Lynch broke the scoring drought and scored on an assist by Bruno to put Nova up, 4-2.
Temple then tied the score at four after answering back with two consecutive goals over a two-and-a-half-minute span.
The Wildcats showed resiliency and came back to score the last two goals of the first half.
Maggie Jennings scored on a free-position shot with 6:30 on the clock and then Trojan hit Comerford to close out the scoring with 2:30 on the clock. The 'Cats held a 6-4 lead headed into the half.
Lynch quickly got the second half going for Villanova and scored two back-to-back goals after receiving passes from Trojan and the Bruno to put take an 8-4 lead. Trojan then added a goal of her own in Villanova's scoring run on a free-position shot.
The Owls then cut the lead down to 9-6 with two unanswered goals.
Kim McDonough then scored on a Lynch pass from the back of the net. Temple's Amber Lambeth netted one in after receiving a pass from Meghan Hoffman and then Hoffman scored on a free-position to make the score 10-8 in Villanova's favor.
On a man-up possession the Wildcats were able to take advantage of the situation. Jennings found a cutting Comerford in the front of the net to put the 'Cats up 11-8. Comerford then had a helping hand in
Devin Hassinger's first goal of the game. The Wildcats led by four with two and a half minutes on the clock.
With one-minute left, the Trojan to Lynch combo struck again and put the staple in the game for the Wildcats. Lynch scored her fourth goal of the game to lead the 'Cats and give Villanova the 13-8 victory.
For the contest Villanova ended with 30 shots, 18 shots on goal, 16 draw controls, 16 ground balls and nine saves. Temple finished with 23 shots, 17 shots on goal, seven draw controls, 22 ground balls and five saves. Both teams finished with six free-position shots.
Alexa Moro now has a season total of 126 saves and an overall save percentage of .457 on 359 shots faced and Hassinger now has 109 draw controls.
Looking Ahead
The Wildcats return to action this Saturday, Apr. 20 in Indianapolis, Ind. for a BIG EAST Conference contest against the Butler Bulldogs. Game time is set to begin at 12 p.m. at Varsity Field and Villanova will be en route to its first 10-win season.
