April 23, 2005
Final Stats
FAIRFIELD, Conn. - Midfielders Matt Starker (Summit, N.J.) and Dan Fanelli (Wantagh, N.Y.) scored three goals apiece, and Villanova (7-6, 3-2 CAA) scored five unanswered goals in the second quarter on the way to a 15-9 victory over Sacred Heart (4-8, 0-5) on Saturday afternoon in the final regular season conference game for both teams.
Each team scored four goals in a wild first quarter, but the Wildcats established control quickly in the second period, scoring three times in a span of 1:59 in the opening minutes of the quarter. Villanova added two more goals later in the period and took a 9-4 lead into halftime. Fanelli scored a man-up goal just 19 seconds into the second quarter, and senior attack Marc Creegan (West Babylon, N.Y.) followed with another goal at the 13:51 mark. Junior attack Brendan O'Donnell (Mountain Lakes, N.J.) extended the lead to 7-4 at the 12:42 mark, and the Wildcats never looked back.
The Pioneers scored a pair of goals just 19 seconds apart early in the third period, but never got closer as Villanova registered its highest offensive output of the season. O'Donnell and sophomore midfielder Eric Heidenberger (Washington, D.C.) finished with two goals apiece as the Wildcats had a season-high 10 different players register at least one point.
Neither team had trouble finding the net early in the game, as Starker and sophomore midfielder Mike Haas (North Wales, Pa.) each had goals in the first five minutes. After Sacred Heart got its first goal of the game at the 9:22 mark, Villanova responded with two more goals for a 4-1 lead. However, the Pioneers scored three goals in the final five minutes of the period to tie the game at 4-4.
Junior goalie Joe Canuso (Moorestown, N.J.) played all but the final 50 seconds in goal and made 11 saves to stabilize the defense. Villanova was outshot 39-36 for the game, including 22-16 in the second half, but Canuso came up with three saves in each of the final two periods to help fend off any Sacred Heart comeback attempt.
Villanova controlled 14-of-26 faceoffs and was successful on 19-of-23 clear attempts. The Wildcats also took advantage of extra-man opportunities, converting on 3-of-5 chances.
The Wildcats finish the regular season on April 29 with a 7:30 p.m. game at Penn State. Villanova will then open the conference tournament on May 4 with a semifinal game. The time and opponent will be known following the conclusion of the other league games on Saturday.
