April 20, 2009

LOUDONVILLE/POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - During the final weekend of the regular season, Villanova (1-27, 0-10 Big East) played four matches that were hosted by Siena on Saturday and Marist on Sunday. The Wildcats were defeated by Marist, Wagner, Iona and St. Francis (N.Y.) to conclude the 2009 season.

Marist 19, Villanova 7

Freshman Claire Melley (Windsor, Conn.) scored two goals for Villanova and five others got into the scoring column for the Wildcats in their first match of the day on Saturday. Marist jumped ahead 4-0 in the first quarter and stretched the lead to 10-2 at halftime on the way to the victory. Villanova scored two goals in both the second and third quarters while netting three goals in the final period.

In goal, freshman Ellie McCutcheon (Boca Raton, Fla.) had seven saves. The other goal scorers for the Wildcats included freshmen Jen Soares (Foster City, Calif.) and Sara Kane (Sacramento, Calif.), as well as sophomores Nicole Lum (Roseville, Calif.), Maria Apablasa (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) and Kathleen Maloney (Chicago, Ill.).

Wagner 16, Villanova 5

Freshman Jen Soares (Foster City, Calif.) scored three goals for Villanova but the team could not overcome allowing seven goals to Wagner in the first period. The Wildcats scored twice in the quarter as well but eventually trailed 12-2 at halftime.

Freshman Ellie McCutcheon (Boca Raton, Fla.) made six saves while freshman Sara Kane (Sacramento, Calif.) and sophomore Kathleen Maloney (Chicago, Ill.) each scored goals for Villanova.

Iona 15, Villanova 5

In the first match of the day played at Marist on Sunday, the Wildcats surrendered seven goals in the first quarter for the second straight outing. Villanova scored two goals of its own in each of the first two periods but managed just one goal in the second half of the contest.

Sophomore Kathleen Maloney (Chicago, Ill.) scored two goals for the Wildcats, who also received one goal apiece from freshmen Jen Soares (Foster City, Calif.) and Sara Kane (Sacramento, Calif.) and junior Annie Stype (Cutchogue, N.Y.).

St. Francis (N.Y.) 9, Villanova 7

Villanova played its closest game on the league schedule in the season finale against the Terriers. The Wildcats fell behind 2-1 after the first quarter but then matched St. Francis with two goals for each team in both the second and third periods. The Terriers carried a 6-5 lead into the fourth quarter and scored three times in the final stanza to hold off Villanova.

Sophomore Kathleen Maloney (Chicago, Ill.) scored three goals to lead the Wildcats and freshman Jen Soares (Foster City, Calif.) added two scores. The team's other two goals came from sophomore Maria Apablasa (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) and freshman Sara Kane (Sacramento, Calif.).