Villanova University

Oct. 18, 2009

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ST. DAVIDS, Pa.--On a turf surface on the campus of Eastern University on Sunday afternoon, Villanova (10-3-4, 3-3-3 Big East) and Pittsburgh (7-4-5, 2-2-5 Big East) played to a 0-0 draw on a blustery day at Olson Field. The Wildcats and Panthers tied each other without a goal being scored for the third consecutive season, with all three games being played at a different site.

The heavy rain earlier in the weekend forced today's game to be moved off campus to a sort of home away from home for Villanova - the Wildcats have now hosted four games at Eastern over the past three seasons. The team also celebrated Senior Day prior to the game and honored the six members of the senior class that will graduate this spring following their four-year collegiate careers.

Even in a game that featured a combined 34 shots between the two teams, the closest either side came to putting a goal on the board wasn't until the end of the second extra period. Villanova senior forward Grace Hawkins (Northport, N.Y.) had the ball at the top of the 18-yard box with 1:36 left in the final overtime and put a shot on target at the right side of the net. The ball caromed off the inside of the right goalpost and then flew across the width of the goal before finally bouncing away from the net.

Villanova still wasn't done making a strong push for a game-winning goal, however. Hawkins' shot off the post eventually bounced to senior midfielder Jessica Carnevale (Princeton, N.J.), whose follow-up shot was wide left with 1:30 to play. A late foul was called against Pittsburgh with less than a minute remaining and a Wildcat free kick led to a header for senior defender Kelly Eagan (St. James, N.Y.) which was saved with 49 seconds left.

Such is the way games have gone between these two teams. There has not been a goal scored in an all-time series Villanova leads 8-2-3 since the middle of the second half of a 2-0 victory for the Wildcats back in 2006. The two in-state opponents have now played each other for more than 351 minutes without a goal being scored.

In the most recent of those contests this afternoon, Villanova owned a 21-13 edge in shots and a 7-4 margin in shots on goal. The Wildcats had to overcome a stagnant first half in which Pittsburgh looked to have more momentum. Villanova outshot the Panthers 13-3 in the second period after halftime and 4-1 in the second overtime period. Morie Kephart had seven saves in goal for Pittsburgh.

Although the Panthers took a slim 5-3 advantage in shots into halftime, their best scoring chance also came after regulation. In between the Wildcats dominating the offensive chances in the second period and the final overtime period, Pittsburgh had a 4-1 edge in the first extra frame. Two of those shots came on successive touches by Liz Carroll at point-blank range after a corner kick. In a crowd on the right side of the net, Carroll had enough room to get solid footing on the ball. Her first shot was blocked by the Villanova defense and her second was saved by Wildcat senior goalkeeper Molly Williams (Hinsdale, Ill.).

Williams recorded three saves in posting her third consecutive shutout, fifth of the season and 12th in her career. Eight of the 12 shutouts for Williams have come against BIG EAST foes, with two of those now against the Panthers. Villanova extended its scoreless defensive streak to 398:29 with today's result.

Villanova goes on the road for its final two games of the regular season and will play at Notre Dame on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. in the first of those two road contests.