Aug. 30, 2009

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Virginia Tech 1, Lehigh 0: Box Score (PDF)
Virginia Tech 1, Lehigh 0: Box Score (HTML)

VILLANOVA, Pa. - In a game where momentum swung back and forth like a pendulum out of control, it was perhaps a fitting ending for Villanova (2-0-1) and Nebraska (1-1-1) to wind up in a 2-2 draw after regulation and two overtime periods in the final game of this weekend's Villanova Classic on Sunday afternoon at the West Campus Soccer Complex. The host Wildcats were the only unbeaten team during a weekend of remarkably even play and emerged as the tournament champion.

This game between Villanova and the Cornhuskers was a thrilling finale that saw both teams rise to the top of their game. It was both an offensive-oriented contest - there were a combined 51 shots - and a defensive special - the two goalkeepers combined to make 21 saves. Mostly, though, it was fast-paced soccer from wire to wire that delivered sensational endings to the three periods played after halftime.

First, the Wildcats had their backs against the wall in regulation before sophomore Katie Ryan (Wayne, N.J.) tied the game at 2-2 with a buzzer-beating shot that found the back of the net with less than nine seconds remaining. She was the lone player to score in both games she played over the weekend and was named the Offensive MVP of the tournament. With time quickly counting down, sophomore forward Rachel Breton (Manalapan, N.J.) played a ball to junior midfielder Rachel Schuyler (Cheshire, Conn.), who clipped it just enough to set up Ryan for the game-tying tally.

Each team took three shots in the first golden-goal overtime period, none bigger than the attempt by Nebraska forward Jordan Jackson that went wide left with a mere one second showing. Less than one minute into the first extra period a shot by Ryan was saved by Cornhuskers goalkeeper Tara MacDonald. Just 32 seconds after that, Nebraska countered with a shot by Morgan Marlborough that Villanova senior Molly Williams (Hinsdale, Ill.) saved. And on it went.

In the second overtime period, both sides took four shots. Ryan got things started with two attempts at the net in the first two minutes of the frame. Nebraska answered in the middle of the period. Williams saved a shot by Anna White and then the rebound attempt by Marlborough went high. A late throw-in for the Wildcats allowed them to make a substitution with little more than a minute remaining and the ball deep in their own territory. It took the rest of the time on the clock for Villanova to get the ball into the attacking third. Breton took the final shot of the game, a blast that went wide left with only a second to play.

The number of goals scored couldn't distinguish a winner between the teams. No discernible advantage could be found anywhere else on the stat sheet either. The Cornhuskers took 26 shots. The Wildcats had 25. Williams tied a career-high with 12 saves. MacDonald stopped nine shots. Corner kicks? Nebraska 6, Villanova 5.

The game's back-and-forth nature started early on. Nebraska easily controlled possession of the ball from the outset and outshot Villanova, 6-3, through the first 28 minutes. Williams had four saves in that span. In the 32nd minute, however, senior midfielder Jessica Carnevale (Princeton, N.J.) got the Wildcats on the scoreboard first with a left-footed shot from 25 yards out just. She had entered the game less than five minutes earlier.

Beginning with the shot that led to Carnevale's goal, Villanova owned an 8-0 shot advantage in the final 14 minutes of the first half. Senior midfielder Erin Byrnes (Sayville, N.Y.) had two chances in the closing minute of the period. Both were wide right, including the second one with 10 seconds remaining.

Nebraska took the first four shots of the second half, the third of which was a header by Morgan Marlborough that tied the score at 1-1 in the 58th minute. Just over two minutes later, Williams made a save on a shot from Anna White and then the Wildcats offense got going again. Consecutive shots by Ryan and freshman Samantha Kovarik (Pittsburgh, Pa.) were saved by MacDonald. Kovarik registered two shots in the game and both came within inches of curling under the crossbar.

In the 78th minute, a foul was called on Villanova outside the right edge of the 18-yard box, setting the Cornhuskers up for a free kick. Anna Caniglia sent a ball towards the right side of the net and a gentle header by Carly Peetz just grazed the ball enough to be redirected into the left corner of the net for a 2-1 Nebraska lead.

The Wildcats was response didn't take long. Just over a minute after the game's third goal, Ryan beat MacDonald 1-on-1 near the top of the box and fired a shot that caromed off the left goal post. In a win over Virginia Tech on Friday afternoon, senior defender Kelly Eagan (St. James, N.Y.) won the game in double overtime when a shot caromed off the left goalpost and into the back of the net. This time, Ryan's carom came right back to her and she took a second shot that sailed well over the crossbar as MacDonald scrambled back into position.

Breton reentered the game with just 3:28 left in regulation as a fourth forward and Villanova left just three players back as it pressed for the equalizer. The move worked as planned when Breton started the game-tying sequence that sent the affair into overtime.

Eagan was named the Defensive MVP of the tournament after scoring the game-winning goal on Friday and making a number of crucial plays in Sunday's game. Schuyler was also named to the All-Tournament Team as each of the four squads at this weekend's tournament had three players chosen.

Peetz, Marlborough and White were recognized on the All-Tournament Team from Nebraska.

Villanova will be on the road for the first time this season next weekend when it plays road games at Davidson and Charlotte. Each of those teams reached the NCAA Tournament this season and will provide a stiff challenge, one that the Wildcats will be ready for after seeing opponents from the Atlantic Coast Conference (Virginia Tech) and Big 12 (Nebraska) this weekend. Villanova plays at Davidson on Friday at 7 p.m.

Earlier Sunday: Virginia Tech defeated Lehigh, 1-0, in the first game of the day. Marika Gray scored in the 33rd minute for the Hokies, who outshot the Mountain Hawks by a 14-4 margin. Lauren Mains had five saves in the game for Lehigh and Rebekah Brook had two for Virginia Tech. The team's All-Tournament Team honorees included Mains, Genna Pepe and Natalie Hojnacki for Lehigh and Kelly Lynch, Kelly Conheeney and Sloane Levin for Virginia Tech.