VILLANOVA, Pa. The Villanova Wildcats (8-4) took on the UConn Huskies (8-3) today at Villanova Stadium, losing to the Huskies 19-12. Today's loss makes the 'Cats 0-2 in conference, but they still showed a great deal of fight with both Sydney Pappas and Isabella Francati finishing with a hat trick. Goalie Cate Gallagher came up with 12 big saves and held the Huskies back from creating a larger lead. The Wildcats came back from a ten point differential by outscoring the Huskies in the fourth quarter 5-2. Despite the valiant comeback effort, it was not enough to give the Wildcats a conference win against the Huskies. 

The game kicked off in a different direction than how it finished with the first goal of the game coming from captain Cara Moreau. The first eight minutes of the game showcased a neck and neck matchup between two powerhouse teams. Just 20 seconds after Moreau put one on the board for the Wildcats, UConn's Morgan Carter responded with a goal past Gallagher. This 'back and forth' behavior persisted for the next four goals as Villanova's Sami Carey and Sydney Pappas and UConn's Grace Coon and Carter all put points up for their teams. The Huskies took their first lead of the game after Kyra Place ripped one past Gallagher. Jenna Greason responded with a goal from Kayla Gulmi, but it was not enough to take back the lead before the end of the first period thanks to goals from UConn's Coon and Lia Laprise. The score going into the second period was still tight at 6-4 in favor of the Huskies. 

Villanova's history repeated itself as the first goal to kick off the second period came from Moreau. However, this was not an indication for a strong period for the Wildcats as they did not score again until seven minutes into the third period. The score going into the second half was 12-5 UConn thanks to second period goals from Laprise, Susan Lafountain, Coon, and Shaffer.

A halftime pep-talk was not enough to take the Wildcats to the top. UConn outscored Villanova in the third period 5-2. UConn's goals came from Shaffer, Sophie Sorenson, Laprise, and Lauren Barry. Francati stood out in the third period and beginning of the fourth as she scored all three of her goals in a row. Husky Madelyn George quickly responded but that did not diminish the fact that the Wildcats flipped the narrative on the Huskies and outscored them in the fourth quarter 5-2. Four of their five goals came one after the other and it was Addie Fischer, Pappas, and Jessie Lee who can take credit for that. The last goal of the game came from UConn's Barry to make the final score 19-12. Nine players made up those 19 goals: Coon(4), Laprise, George, Shaffer, Sorenson, Place, Lafountain, Carter, and Barry. 

To catch more of the Villanova Wildcats, tune in this Saturday, April 8th, as they take on the Butler Bulldogs at 1:00 PM. This is also our Youth Day and Easter Egg Hunt- bring a friend! 

NOTES: The history between Villanova and UConn is 19-12 in favor of the Huskies…The Wildcats are undefeated 6-0 against Butler…Sydney Pappas currently leads the team with 36 goals…Kayla Gulmi leads the team in assists with 22.