VILLANOVA, Pa: The Villanova Wildcats (5-2) took on the Maryland Terps (5-3) at 1:00 pm this afternoon at Villanova Stadium, losing to the Terps for the first time on their home field this season 6-15. Sophomore offensive stand-out Sydney Pappas led the 'Cats with a hat trick while Maddie Luer had two goals and one assist.
The Terps had the first goal of the game coming from Shaylan Ahearn who had a hat trick in today's match. Pappas quickly responded with a goal from Luer two minutes later. Maryland's Kori Edmondson marched down the field and had two back-to-back goals in a little over a minute. The last six minutes of the first quarter saw goals from Villanova's Luer and Maryland's Jordyn Lipkin and Ahearn. The score was 5-2 heading into the second quarter.
Ten minutes went by in the second quarter before we saw a goal from either team. Ahearn broke this no-goal streak with her third goal of the game. Senior Libby May, who had 64 goals in her 2022 season, scored the next two goals of the game for the Terps. Nataline Pansini scored with a minute and a half left and Luer scored with five seconds remaining in the first half. The Terps led 9-3 with thirty minutes left to play.
The third quarter only saw goals from the Terps as they shut out the Wildcats. Goals came from Shannon Smith, May, and Lipkin. Sophomore goalkeeper Cate Gallagher had six of her seventeen amazing saves during the third quarter, making the score 12-3 at the end of the third.
With fifteen minutes left in the game, Pappas came out guns blazing with two goals back-to-back assisted by Kayla Gulmi and Sami Carey. The next three goals came from Maryland's Pansini, Edmondson, and Eloise Clevenger. Villanova and Maryland tied in shots in the fourth quarter 7-7. Even though Maryland had the first goal of the game and won by nine points, Villanova's Carey scored the last goal of the game proving that the Wildcats fight to the last minute and never give up.
When asked about today's effort, headcoach Jill Batcheller says, "Today, we talked about putting together a full 60 minutes of effort and discipline to compete against Maryland. I really enjoy playing against top competition because it allows us to see plays and players who rise the to the occasion. We saw great performances from Cate Gallagher in cage with 17 saves and all of our goals being scored by freshman and sophomores. We will get back to work this week and will rebound stronger together!"
For more of the Wildcats tune in this Wednesday, March 15, at 1:00 PM as they face the Lafayette Leopards.
NOTES: The record between Villanova and Lafayette is 7-9 in favor of the Leopards…Villanova has won the last four games against the Leopards…Villanova is 0-2 against Maryland.
