March 2, 2008

Box Score

FAIRFIELD, Conn. - In a tightly contested game, Villanova (1-2) allowed four unanswered goals in the second half and was defeated by Sacred Heart (1-2), 5-3, at Campus Field on Sunday afternoon. The Wildcats led 3-1 at halftime before the host Pioneers rallied back.

Villanova scored midway through the first half to take a 1-0 lead on a goal by junior Taylor Lucy (Ocean View, Del.). Lucy's tally with 13:40 remaining in the period opened the scoring and it initially appeared that it would be the lone score of the first half.

However, a flurry of goals late in the period led to a 3-1 advantage for the Wildcats at the intermission. Junior Taryn McKenna (Dix Hills, N.Y.) scored with 1:28 left in the period but Sacred Heart answered just 13 seconds later to pull within 2-1 at the 1:15 mark. McKenna had an answer of her own for the Pioneers goal, scoring for a second time with 28 seconds left in the period.

Both teams totaled 11 shots in the opening period but Sacred Heart scored on four of its five shots after halftime to pull out the victory. Jessica Ingrilli continued the theme of quick goals when she scored 10 seconds into the second half. Liz Ottey tied the game at 3-3 just over seven minutes into the period with her second goal of the game.

Villanova actually owned a 9-5 edge in shots in the second half but was unable to come up with another goal. Midway through the second half, Mary Montesarchio scored with 16:10 remaining to give the Pioneers their first lead of the game. Ingrilli provided an insurance goal with 5:54 to play to account for the final score.

Freshman goalie Maggie Langan (Potomac, Md.) made five saves for the Wildcats, while Chelsea Wagner stopped 14 shots for Sacred Heart.

Villanova was playing the first of three straight games on the road in this afternoon's contest. The Wildcats take on Central Connecticut State next Sunday at 1 p.m. in New Britain, Conn.