Sept. 28, 2005

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The No. 15 Villanova field hockey team (8-2, 2-0 Big East) ended a five-game win streak Wednesday losing to the University of Pennsylvania 3-2 at Franklin Field. Despite controlling most of the contest, short lapses allowed Penn to stay in the game and eventually put it away.

The first half went in stages as Penn came out fired up in the opening ten minutes putting the Wildcats on their heels with numerous breakaways. Despite these attempts, it was the Villanova defense that stepped up to the challenge and broke up the plays before the Quakers could capitalize as well as allowing no shots. Villanova then turned it around and took over the remaining fifteen minutes.

Fueled by six first half penalty corner attempts, the `Cats were able to control the tempo of the game and scored a goal in the thirtieth minute to go ahead. Freshman Sam Coveleski (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) dribbled down the left side and found senior Rory Rogers (Rosemont, Pa./Sacred Heart Academy) near the goal who slid it past Quaker keeper, Liz Schlossberg. This was Rogers' ninth goal of the season and gave the Wildcats a 1-0 advantage going into halftime.

The second half started out back and forth until `Nova tried to get some breathing room as Megan Foster (Berlin, N.J./Bishop Eustace) dribbled into the circle on a penalty corner, took a shot and got her own rebound to put it in. This made the score 2-0, but the Wildcats wouldn't rest for long as Penn answered with a goal just thirty seconds later from Tracy Statter.

Penn then used two corners to gain an advantage with five minutes remaining. Rachel Eng dribbled in from the corner to get the ball past goalkeeper, Alex Whalen. In a deadlock, Villanova took many attempts but couldn't find the back of the net. The Quakers, however, were able to get the ball down the field and Statter scored during a scramble in front of the net at 67:41 to make the final 3-2.

The Wildcats seemed to hold an advantage in every offensive statistical category having sixteen penalty corners and twelve shots to Penn's six and three shots, all resulting in goals.

Villanova returns to the Main Line this Friday to take on the La Salle Explorers at 7 p.m.