VILLANOVA, Pa. – After taking a one-goal lead following a scoreless first half, Villanova had two goals scored against it in the final 13 minutes, falling to Michigan 2-1 on Thursday afternoon at the Higgins Soccer Complex.
 
Villanova (0-1) broke a scoreless stalemate in the 70^th minute on an Amalia Cardo penalty kick. Michigan (1-0) responded with two goals in a span of nine minutes late in the game to take the victory.
 
Offensive chances were close in the opening 45 minutes with Michigan narrowly leading the shot tally at 6-5 and 3-1 for shots on frame. That lone shot on goal for the 'Cats came from Alex Little in the 44^th minute when her chance was saved by Michigan's Sophie Homan.
 
Cardo's goal came in the 70^th minute after a collision between Homan and Hannah Curtin at the six-yard box. Once the officials reviewed the play, they confirmed the penalty to send the sophomore to the spot. She sent a chance in that ricochetted off the right post and into the back of the net behind Homan for a 1-0 lead. That goal marked the first of her career.
 
Michigan's break came in the 78^th minute on a corner kick.
 
Campbell Jewell sent an inswinger in that met the hands of Hannah Dickinson who was extended above the crowd in the box. The ball moved off her fingers and found the head of Elle Ervin inside the six-yard box for the 1-1 equalizer.
 
Heading into the final five minutes with the score still level, Olivia Neal fell into a foot race with Ella Jablinskey along the sideline. Just outside of the 18-yard box, she slid a cross over toward the top of the box to find Ervin who passed to a running Gabrielle Prych. She took a shot near the penalty spot that got by an incoming Dickinson and into the net for the game-winner in the 87^th minute.
 
Villanova was outshot 16-9 with Cardo making a team-high four attempts and one on goal. Ervin led the Wolverines with five attempts, two on frame.
 
Dickinson was called on for four saves in the loss, three of those coming in the first half. On the other end,  Sophie Homan made two saves.
 
Villanova is back in action next week with its first road test of the season at No. 10 Wake Forest. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. on August 21 from Spry Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C.