Villanova, Pa.- The Villanova Wildcats kept it close with the Denver Pioneers throughout the game but fell by a final of 12-10 on Alumni Day inside Villanova Stadium.

With the loss the Wildcats moved to 6-4 overall and 1-1 in BIG EAST play while the Pioneers are now 6-5 and 1-1 in the league. 

The scoring for both teams went back and forth in the first quarter.  Denver got the board first, but Luke Keating tied it up at 10:54.   The graduate transfer took the ball from behind the cage and was able to break around and score.  Jack Hannah, who finished with a hat trick for the Pioneers, gave them the lead once again with an unassisted goal. The Wildcats tied it up again this time on their first extra-man opportunity; it would be Keating who dished inside to Brett Baskin who let the shot rip to make it 2-2. Just seconds later Denver would take the lead on a goal by Alex Simmons, but Keating tied it up for the third time at 3:29. Hannah netted the final goal of the quarter to pull Denver ahead 4-3 after 15 minutes.

Matt Campbell led the Wildcats in the second quarter.  The senior netted the opening goal after Chris Hervada caused a turnover on a Denver failed clear and dished to the Campbell who ripped a shot from 10 yards out. The Pioneers pulled ahead by two with 9:41 left in the quarter but Campbell helped Villanova fight back.  The attackman made it a one goal game at 8:29, Keating set up Campbell for the catch and shoot goal.  Just seconds later J.P. Basile passed it inside to a cutting Campbell who got a quick shot off to tie the game at six.  Next Basile would get in on the scoring action with an unassisted goal to give Villanova their first lead of the game with 6:07 to play in the quarter.  This would be the final goal of the quarter, giving the Wildcats the lead heading into the locker room.

Denver scored the opening two goals of the third quarter to regain the lead.  Campbell set up Brett Baskin with 3:42 left to tie it at eight but the Pioneers scored two more before in the final minutes of the third to make it 10-8. 

Campbell scored his fourth goal of the game in the opening minutes of the final quarter.  The play started with Brody LaPorte forcing a turnover at midfield, Campbell collected the ground ball, ran down and score to make it a one goal game.  The Pioneers followed with having a nearly four-minute offensive possession that ended with a man-up goal for Hannah to make it 11-9 with 7:08 to play.  The Wildcats cut it to one when Baskin pass it to a cutting Basile at 1:10 but Denver was able to net an insurance goal seconds later to make the final 12-10.

Justin Coppola was 17-for-26 from the faceoff x with a team high eight ground balls.  Will Vitton played all 60 minutes in goal and finished with 10 saves, four coming in the second quarter. 

Next Saturday Villanova will host Providence for Senior Day.   First faceoff is scheduled for 1:00 P.M.