Sept. 6, 2009

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Junior defender Amy Greco (Media, Pa.) scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 70th minute, just 25 seconds after the game had been tied for the second time and Villanova (4-0-1) remained undefeated with a 3-2 win over Charlotte (3-1) on Sunday afternoon at Transamerica Field. Each team scored twice during a 17-minute span of the second half, a seesaw stretch which culminated with Greco's second career goal at 69:07.

The Wildcats had their hands full all day with an extremely potent offense from the 49ers. Villanova is fast becoming an offensive juggernaut as well though, as it never trailed despite being outshot 16-6. The Wildcats scored on three of their six attempts at the net and put five of their six shots on goal.

The game turned just seconds after Charlotte had pulled even at 2-2 with a goal at 68:42. Once Villanova restarted play, Greco had the ball along the left sideline 10 yards into 49ers territory and blasted a shot that sailed over the head of goalkeeper Lauren Williams. It was the second career goal for Greco and first game winner.

After taking the lead for the third time on the afternoon, the Wildcat defense limited the 49ers to only two shots in the last 20 minutes. One was a shot on goal with less than a minute left that was saved by senior goalkeeper Molly Williams (Hinsdale, Ill.), who registered five saves for the day.

Villanova came into the game having scored 12 goals in its first four games, but all three goals today came from players who netted their first goal of the season. Senior Grace Hawkins (Northport, N.Y.) opened the scoring at 29:53 after a corner kick, one of four that the Wildcats were awarded in the first half. The team has outscored the opposition 8-0 before halftime this season. Senior midfielder Erin Byrnes (Sayville, N.Y.) placed the ball in front of the goal on the corner and freshman forward Heidi Sabatura (Lawrenceville, N.J.) played it to Hawkins, who scored her 11th career goal.

Less than seven minutes into the second half, Jenna McKeon tied the game at 1-1 with her second goal of the season at 51:36. Oni Bernard played the ball back from the goal line and McKeon shot it into the left corner.

It took the Wildcats just over seven minutes to retake the lead, as sophomore Rachel Breton (Manalapan, N.J.) delivered her first career goal at 59:06. Classmate Katie Ryan (Wayne, N.J.) passed a ball from the left sideline in to Breton, who shot to the right corner.

Charlotte capitalized on an unsettled scramble to tie the game a second time in the 69th minute. India Winford knocked the ball into the net after it had bounced around inside the box. Sam Huecker and Danielle Mayeaux were each credited with assists.

Villanova went on the road for the first time this weekend and came away with victories over Davidson and the 49ers. This afternoon's win had to be a particularly satisfying one, as Charlotte advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season and is highly ranked this year in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

Next up for the Wildcats is a pair of home games next weekend, with Vermont first up on Friday at 4 p.m.

NOTES: Ryan's goal-scoring streak ended at four games, though her point-streak continued to five games with her assist on Breton's goal ... Villanova is 73-2-5 since 2000 when scoring a goal in the first half and 109-1-6 since 1999 when scoring the game's first goal ... This weekend's games were the first meetings ever against Davidson and Charlotte.