Villanova, Pa.- The Villanova Wildcats opened home play with a 15-9 win over the Fairfield Stags on Saturday afternoon.  Luke Keating led the Wildcat's attack with four goals while Matt Campbell and J.P. Basile completed hat-tricks.

With the win Villanova improves to 2-1 overall while the Stags fall to 1-2. 

Fairfield's offense got started early netting the opening goals to go up 2-0 just under four-minute in.  Villanova's defense would keep the Stags scoreless for the rest of the quarter while the Wildcat's offense would get going.  Keating netted the first on the EMO followed by Campbell dishing it to Brett Baskin to tie the game up with 6:33 to play.  Midfielder Tucker Goodelle gave Villanova their first lead three minutes later and to close out the quarter Baskin would set up Campbell to make it 4-2.

The Stags started off with second quarter with two quick goals in the opening minute to tie it at four.  Patrick Daly scored his 11^th of the season on a dish from Campbell to give Villanova the lead, which they would hold for the rest of the game.  Justin Coppola won the faceoff, ran down and scored six seconds later followed by Campbell netting his second of the day to close out a three-goal run and put the Wildcats up 7-4.  The Stag's Taylor Strough would net his second at the 7:44 mark to bring it within two but Villanova got one more goal before halftime.  Matt Licata at the 3:07 mark netted his first career goal to make it 8-5.

Villanova had a strong third quarter, scoring six goals, which was the most of any quarter on Saturday.  Basile started if off with a goal in the opening minute followed by an EMO goal by Daly that was assisted by Keating.  Jack McKenna and Strough both netted goals for Fairfield but Keating answered back with a pair of goals both assisted by Basile.  Campbell would compete a hat-trick and Basile would net his second of the day before the end of the quarter to give Villanova a 14-8 lead.

Following a goal by the Stag's in the 12^th minute Villanova's defense was able to keep them scoreless for the rest of the game thanks to five saves by Will Vitton.  Keating and Basile would each net one more goal to make the final 16-9.

Vitton finished with 12 saves on the day, his second game this season with double digit saves.   Coppola was 18-of-27 from the faceoff x with a game high 13 ground balls.  Reid Colwell had a strong day on defense with six ground balls and a caused turnover while Brody LaPorte, Chris Hervada, and Gavin Burke all had two caused turnovers. 

Next, Villanova will travel to Providence to take on the Brown Bears on Wednesday.  First faceoff is scheduled for 4:00 P.M.