COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. — Villanova field hockey secured its first BIG EAST win of the season on Friday in a 4-1 win over Temple at home. The team moves to 6-3 on the season and pushes their conference record to 1-1.
Four different 'Cats hit the score board in the win with Ava Borkowski starting the action with her ninth goal of the season in the first quarter. Freshman Katharina Balks put VU back on top during the second quarter with her second career goal. Later in the third, it was Molly Zimmerman who picked up her first goal of the season before it was Adie Minnella who tallied her third of the season and put the score out of reach in the fourth.
As of recently, Villanova and Temple's matchups have caused huge implications for the BIG EAST tournament. Just last season, the Wildcats' win over the Owls helped to secure VU a spot in to compete in the tournament.
"Today's win was huge," said Coach Milhous. "This is always a crazy good game. We always have a close game with them because they're a quality team. Today's win was really significant and we needed that."
Feeling the urgency of the game, the 'Cats got things rolling early in the first quarter with a penalty corner just a minute into the action. The initial try couldn't be converted but just one minute later it was Ava Borkowski who tallied her ninth goal of the season off a pass from Jane Bresnahan to put the 'Cats up 1-0. Villanova controlled the action for much of the first quarter, holding Temple to no shots while tallying four of their own as well as two penalty corners.
Temple responded with some spurts of offense to start the second quarter. Forcing three penalty corners, with the first two being turned away before finding the goal on the third by Lotje Aalderink. Villanova didn't let the goal stop them as they went back on the attack with two more corners of their own. On the try it was both Molly Zimmerman and Gemma Lysaght who set up Katharina Balks for her second career goal. The freshman, who continues to get better with every game, made her first career start against the Owls.
"I think she has now completely adjusted and it's showing in her play," said Coach Milhous. "She's playing really well. She's more comfortable. She's more confident. Her individual ball handling skills are really great, and she created really good opportunities and put a lot of pressure on the ball as well defensively."
Balks' goal only added to the fire that was the Wildcat's offense throughout the second frame of action. The team tallied a total of eight shots and six penalty corners during the 15 minutes including the goal by Balks. Lysaght tallied three shots in the period along with her assist while Borkowski, Aimee Largoza and Colleen Finnan each also picked up a shot. Despite the chances, Balks' goal was the only to go in the net so the 'Cats headed into the break up 2-1.
Coming out of the break, Villanova went right back on the attack. When it was Aimee Largoza who earned the penalty corner just two minutes into the frame. On the try, Maeve Boston found Gemma Lysaght who set up Molly Zimmerman for her first goal of the season and to put the Wildcats up 3-1. The assist by Boston marked her ninth of the season, which leads the country, while Lysaght picked up her second assist of the afternoon. The rest of the quarter was primarily a defensive showing, with each side only garnering one shot.
The story was much the same from the end of the third to the start of the fourth with both defenses holding down their respective circles. Temple did find an early chance for a penalty corner but was turned away by the Wildcats. Villanova kept putting its foot on the gas before Adie Minella scored her third goal of the season to push the lead to three, 4-1. Freshman Esmee De Lange collected the assist, the third of the season. Minnella's proved to be the final blow to give the 'Cats the 4-1 win.
In net, Maddi Sears collected her sixth win of the season to push her record to 6-3 overall. The senior picked up three saves for a .750 save percentage in the afternoon and added to her season save percentage of .818.
Coach Milhous had high praises for the senior who has four shutouts on the season and anchors the defensive unit.
"She is playing really great field hockey in goal," said Coach Milhous. "Maddi is so on top of her game. She's just been very dominant for us. She's been confident in goal and she's seeing the ball really well. I'm so happy for her and I'm so proud of her."
Up Next: Villanova will continue BIG EAST play with a home contest against Georgetown on Friday, October 2nd at 12 p.m. The match will serve as VU's Pink Out and will be streamed on Villanova's YouTube page.
