Aug. 31, 2001

Stats

VILLANOVA, PA. - In the 2001 season opener for the Villanova University women's soccer team on Friday, Aug. 31, at the Villanova Soccer Complex, the Wildcats used a well balanced attack and got three goals and three assists from their freshman class to cruise past St. Bonaventure by the score of 6-0. The win improved Villanova's record to 1-0-0 on the season, while the Bonnies fell to 0-1-0.

The Wildcats broke open the scoring just 2:24 into regulation when junior Quinn Sellers took a cross from fellow junior Kristen Dunst and beat St. Bonaventure goalkeeper Karen Cunningham to the left to give Villanova an early 1-0 lead. At the 24 minute mark the Wildcats looked to increase their lead, but a blast off the foot of senior Dyane Noonan found the cross bar and a rebound from Sellers was saved by Cunningham.

Villanova would increase its advantage just under two minutes later, as sophomore Candice MacDonald received a pass from freshman Erica Stewart, found an opening, and beat Cunningham from 20 yards out to pad the Wildcat lead to 2-0.

With just under seven minutes left in the first half, Villanova claimed a commanding 3-0 advantage. Freshman Laurie Johnson got a hold of a loose ball and beat Cunningham in the right corner. Senior Jessica Painchaud and junior transfer Alison Bimba were credited with assists on Johnson's goal.

The Wildcat defense was stellar in the first half of play, led by senior Dyane Noonan, junior Jill DiBerardino and redshirt freshman Michelle Biehl. The Villanova backs held the Bonnies to just one shot on goal in the first half as the `Cats went into the half with a 3-0 lead.

The second half began much like the first, as Villanova scored under 10 minutes into the half. Johnson found Stewart with a touch pass, and Stewart fed freshman Regina Villari who drilled a shot past Cunningham from 10 yards out to increase the Wildcat advantage to four goals.

Five minutes later Villanova capitalized on a corner kick, as Johnson took junior Julie Battista's corner and headed it into the net to make it a 5-0 game. The Wildcats put the finishing touches on St. Bonaventure at the 80:15 mark, as Dunst passed the ball to an open Angela Scialdone right in front of the goal on the left side. Scialdone snuck the ball past Cunningham for her first goal of the season, giving Villanova a 6-0 victory.

Sophomore Chrissy Dolan got the shutout in goal for the Wildcats, saving three shots on the afternoon. Thanks to a tremendous defensive showing by the `Cats, Villanova outshot the Bonnies by a 28-3 margin.

On the offensive front, Johnson left the Wildcats with two goals and one assist. Stewart and Dunst each tallied a game-high two assists in the contest. In goal for St. Bonaventure in the loss, Cunningham saved a game-high 12 shots.

Villanova will resume play on Sept. 7, traveling to Manhattan College to take on the Jaspers at 4:00 p.m.