Oct. 7, 2005

Box Score

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Freshman forward Nicole Coia (Simpsonville, S.C.) registered her first collegiate game-winning goal with a score late in the second half and Villanova (7-3-4, 3-0-3 Big East) defeated visiting Cincinnati (3-7-3, 1-4-1 BE) 2-1 on Friday afternoon at the Villanova Soccer Stadium.

A steady rain throughout the game became a heavy downpour for much of the second half, and the game remained tied at 1-1 for most of the period despite the Wildcats holding a 14-2 shot advantage after halftime. The tie was broken at the 82:02 mark by Coia, who fired a hard shot from the top of the box that landed in the middle of the net. Senior defender Laura Koch (Blackwood, N.J.) served a pass to the center of the box, and Coia delivered her second goal of the season to give Villanova the lead for good.

The Wildcats remained undefeated in conference play and extended their unbeaten streak to seven games (4-0-3) with an aggressive offensive attack. Villanova's energy on the offensive end eventually wore down the Bearcats defense, as the Wildcats did an effective job of controlling the ball in the midfield and launched 24 shots.

Coia was involved with the first Villanova goal as well, which came just 10:43 into the contest and gave the Wildcats an early 1-0 lead. Coia dribbled the ball into the attacking third along the left side and tipped a pass to sophomore midfielder Kaley Guthrie (Ogdensburg, N.J.). Guthrie was unable to manage a shot of her own, but sophomore forward Nikki Mabery (Phoenix, Ariz.) maintained possession for Villanova with a header to senior forward Lindsey Finnegan (Blackwood, N.J.). Finnegan kept the ball in the air and scored on a header to the left corner for her team-high fifth goal of the season.

The Wildcat lead was short-lived, however, as Cincinnati evened the score at the 22:26 mark of the period. A scramble for possession of the ball ensued following a Bearcat corner kick, and Jenn Johanigman eventually scored on the third of a quick series of shots from close range. After Johannigman took an initial shot that was deflected by Villanova goalkeeper Jillian Loyden (Vineland, N.J.), the ball came to Kristin May, who took the second shot of the series. Loyden deflected her attempt as well, but the rebound came back to the Bearcats. Becky Imhoff touched the ball back to Johanigman, and Cincinnati's leading scorer finally sent the ball past the goal line and into the right side of the net.

The Wildcats outshot the Bearcats 24-10 for the game, but the poor field conditions and eight saves by Cincinnati goalkeeper Sherry Slye kept the contest knotted at 1-1 until Coia's late heroics. Loyden made three saves in goal for Villanova.

The Wildcats are back home on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. to face another Big East newcomer in Louisville. The Cardinals defeated Georgetown 2-1 on Friday afternoon and are tied with Villanova with 12 points in conference games. The victories by Louisville and the Wildcats on Friday temporarily tied them for first place in Division B with Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish were visiting Rutgers on Friday night at 7 p.m. Georgetown dropped to fourth place in the division with 10 points following their loss.

NOTES: Field conditions worsened as the second half wore on, as the heavy rain and several stoppages of play took effect on the game ... Villanova has outscored the opposition 7-3 during its seven-game unbeaten streak ... The Wildcats extended their best unbeaten stark to a conference season as well ... The Bearcats goal in the first half ended a scoreless streak of 201:58 for the Villanova defense, which has allowed a total of three goals in the last 700 minutes of play (0.386 goals-against average) ... Coia is the fifth different Wildcat to have a game-winning goal this season ... Finnegan leads the team with three game-winners ... Villanova had a double-digit shot advantage for the seventh time this season ... The goal scored by Finnegan was only the fifth this season in the first half for the Wildcats ... Villanova has been outscored by the opposition 6-5 before halftime but has outdone its opponents to a 15-4 tune after the intermission.