April 8, 1999

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Lafayette employed fine defense to go with a balanced offensive attack to lift the Leopards to a 12-6 victory over the Villanova Wildcats at Villanova Stadium on Thursday afternoon. Freshman Heather McClelland and junior Dana Di Renzo each scored three goals for the winners. Freshman Sarah DePeters scored a career high three goals for the Wildcats.

The Leopards gained control of the contest from the outset. DiRenzo found the net twice in the first minute to stake Lafayette to a 2-0 edge. A goal by Villanova freshman Cecily Pierce (New Canaan, Conn.) at the 24:38 cut the margin in half but Lafayette scored two goals thirteen seconds apart to move to a 4-1 edge. DiRenzo's third goal of the first half made it a 5-1 game and Kellee Salber scored at the 10:21 mark to make it a 6-1 game. Tallies by junior Molly O'Connor (Towson, Md.) and DePeters (Rochester, N.Y.) for Villanova cut the lead to three at half.

A DePeters goal pulled Villanova to within 6-4 at the 27:19 mark of the second half. But Lafayette scored four goals in the next seven minutes to break the contest open. Villanova's leading scorer, Meghan Doyle, was held in check until late in the second half, when she recorded a goal and an assist. The goal was her 42nd of the campaign.

The win was Lafayette's fifth straight and pushes its record to 6-3 overall, 2-0 in the Patriot League. Villanova falls to 3-7 overall, 1-3 in the Patriot League.

The Wildcats return to action on Tuesday against St. Joseph's at Villanova Stadium.

            1   2  Final 
Lafayette   6   6  12      
Villanova   3   3   6 

Goals: Lafayette, DiRenzo 3, McClelland 3, Salber 2, Kim Stone 1, Stephanie Tinney 1, Olivia Long 1; Villanova, DePeters 3, Doyle 1, O'Connor 1, Pierce 1.

Assists: Lafayette, DiRenzo 2, Kate Schoch 1; Villanova, Doyle 1.

Saves: Lafayette, Leela Strong 11; Villanova, Sarah Gilhorn, 13.

Shots: Lafayette 25, Villanova, 17.

Draw Controls: Lafayette 6, Villanova 8 .