Villanova University

Aug. 26, 2012

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - For the second time in three days against a local foe a 1-0 lead did not stand up and Villanova (1-2-1) was defeated 2-1 by Saint Joseph's (2-0-1) at Finnesey Field on Sunday afternoon. Two goals for the Hawks in a span of just over five minutes midway through the second half accounted for the difference in the game as the Wildcats dropped their second straight contest.

Saint Joseph's scored twice following corner kicks in the 66th minute and the 72nd minute to first tie the score and then take a lead that they protected for the final 18 minutes. Despite the outcome Villanova was in control of the game for much of the second half and the Wildcats had a 12-5 advantage in shots for the period.

Early in the period a barrage of five consecutive shots by Villanova in a two-minute stretch culminated with freshman midfielder Rhea Barghash (Watchung, N.J.) scoring her first collegiate goal in the 50th minute to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. Sophomore forward Stephanie Myers (Frisco, Texas) set up the play for her first assist of the season and Barghash found the back of the net at the game's 49:41 mark.

The game was scoreless at halftime with just five total shots between the two teams in the first 45 minutes. Villanova took four of those five shots and returned to the field after the intermission with a renewed sense of urgency. Freshman midfielder Hayley Wilson (Leonardstown, Md.) sent in a corner kick in the 48th minute which led to two straight Wildcats shots which were blocked by the Hawks defense.

In the 49th minute shots by Barghash and sophomore forward Caitlin Forte (Selbyville, Del.) each went wide before Barghash finished off the sequence with her goal. Six different players had at least two shots in the game for the Wildcats, who finished the day with a 16-6 edge in shots and a 7-3 margin in shots on goal. Freshman midfielder Emily Damstrom (Martinsville, N.J.) led all players with three shots.

Saint Joseph's got the equalizer at the 65:52 mark but up until that point had not managed a shot on goal against the Villanova defense. That changed when Ali Yozwiak took a short corner and collected the ball back from Jill Root to score from the left side with a shot to the top right corner of the net.

Less than six minutes later the Hawks were credited with an own goal when a corner kick from Taylor Mallory was inadvertently headed backwards by a Wildcats player and into the goal. Saint Joseph's took a 2-1 lead on that play and did just enough to withstand another charge by Villanova in the final minutes.

In the final 10 minutes of the contest the Wildcats took four unanswered shots to try and extend the game, including a pair of shots on goal by Wilson in the 81st minute and the 88th minute. In between senior forward Heidi Sabatura (Lawrenceville, N.J.) and Damstrom had looks which went wide and high, respectively.

Senior goalkeeper Kelsey Quinn (Mt. Airy, Md.) made one save for Villanova and her Hawks counterpart, Christine Neal, made six stops in the win.

Next weekend the Wildcats go back on the road for a pair of matches, beginning with a 7 p.m. game at Richmond on Friday night. Villanova also plays Virginia Commonwealth on Sunday at 1 p.m. during its stay in the Richmond area.