Final Stats

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Villanova battled back from a 12-9 deficit in the fourth quarter to send the contest into overtime, but No. 17 Harvard came out on top as the Crimson topped Villanova 13-12 on Saturday afternoon at Jordan Field in Cambridge, Mass.

With 1:27 remaining in overtime, Harvard's Morgan Cheek notched the game-winner when he hit a close-range shot to claim the season opening victory. The Wildcats held the upper hand for the first 2:33 of extra time following Luke Palmadesso's faceoff win, but struggled to find good looks at net. Devin McNamara's take on goal sailed wide for Villanova's only shot during the stanza.

Despite the defeat, the Wildcats had an outstanding day at the faceoff X winning 21-of-29 (.724) attempts and were paced by Palmadesso's 71% win percentage at the position for the afternoon. Villanova also outpaced their opponents in nearly every statistical category, placing 31 shots on goal to Harvard's 24 and winning the ground ball battle 32-20.

Villanova began the contest on the right foot and owned a 4-2 lead over the Crimson after the first quarter and increased that lead to 6-2 with 13:23 left on the half. Harvard began to battle back and tallied three unanswered scores in just over three minutes of action to make it a one-goal game at 6-5 with 8:45 on the clock. Harvard and VU would go on to trade goals to end the second period at 7-6 in favor of Villanova heading into the locker rooms.

The Crimson came out hot in the third quarter, tying the contest at 7-7 and pulling ahead 8-7 off of goals from Sean McDonagh and Morgan Cheek at the 12:20 and 5:39 marks. The Wildcats broke a 22:05 scoreless streak with 1:03 left in the third period off a Johnny Gallaway score to close the quarter tied with the Crimson at 8-8.

Four unanswered goals by Harvard helped the hosts take a 12-9 advantage over Villanova for their biggest lead of the contest, but the Wildcats surged beginning with Jack Curran's score with 4:34 on the clock. Bolstered by Palmadesso's faceoff dominance, the Wildcats buried two more scores in just 11 seconds from Christian Cuccinello and Jake Froccaro to once again tie the game at 12-all with 4:14 left to play.

Neither team would be able to find the back of the net again in regulation as the contest went into overtime.

Defensively, junior goalkeeper Dan Willis registered 11 saves on the afternoon while Harvard's Robert Shaw notched 19 stops for the victory. The Wildcats were paced on offence by Cuccinello's three goal effort while nine Villanovan's tallied points in the contest. Harvard was led by Joe Lang's three goals and two assists for five points.

Villanova will return to action a week from today when they travel to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions for an in-state matchup. Game time is slated for 1 p.m. in State College, Pa.