VILLANOVA, Pa. - Villanova women's lacrosse (6-3, 1-0 BIG EAST) secured a 14-8 victory over Xavier on Saturday afternoon on Senior Day.

Ashlyn Hickey opened the scoring for the Wildcats off a feed from Mary Moore, but Xavier answered quickly to even it at 1-1. Hickey also contributed three ground balls in the contest, tying for a game-high. Leslie Iorio responded with a goal off an assist from Sophia Corretjer, and after another Musketeer score, Moore found Bella Piselli to give Villanova a 3-2 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Xavier tied things up early in the second at 3-3, but Moore recorded her third assist of the day to set up Iorio's second goal. Elena Torres then connected with Piselli for her second of the game to put the 'Cats back in front, 5-4. The Musketeers answered again with a free-position goal to even it at 5-5, but Moore dished out her fourth assist to Rose Christie to regain a 6-5 edge.

Villanova built momentum late in the half, starting with Iorio's first hat trick of the season off another feed from Corretjer. Corretjer followed by setting up Christie for her second goal, and Isabella Henson-Vendrell converted on a free-position attempt for her first of the season to extend the lead to 9-5. Iorio then found Torres for the final goal of the half, sending the 'Cats into the break with a 10-5 advantage.

Christie began the third with her third hat trick of the season. Corretjer followed with her fourth assist of the day, setting up Iorio's fourth goal to push the lead to 12-5. Villanova held Xavier scoreless for the entire quarter.

Iorio netted her career-high fifth of the contest off Moore's career-best fifth assist, marking Villanova's eighth straight goal to stretch the lead to 13-5. Xavier responded with a goal to make it 13-6 with 12 minutes remaining. Torres scored her second off an assist from Christie before Xavier added two late goals to make the final 14-8.

Villanova controlled the draw, 16-7, behind 11 from Emma Verhoest.

UP NEXT: The Wildcats host No. 2 Stanford on March 28 at 12 p.m. at Villanova Stadium.