Box Score Aug. 19, 2016 Final Stats
Villanova, Pa. -
The Villanova Wildcats (1-0) defeated the Delaware Blue Hens (0-1) by a final of 3-2 in the season opener at the Higgins Soccer Complex. The Wildcats were led offensively by freshman Ida DiClemente (Kinnelon, N.J.) who scored all three goal for Villanova in her first game.
The Wildcats dominated from the start of the first half getting on the board first at the 9:44 mark on a cross kick from DiClemente. But the Blue Hens tied things up just over 15 minutes later on a corner kick that was successfully kicked in by Jillian Vassalo.
Villanova took the lead back just a few minutes later, the play started out with a pass from Emily Kuefler (Brighton, Mass.) that went to Kristin Barbour (Superior, Colo.). Barbour set the ball into the air and DiClemente used her height to battle for the ball in the mash up in front of the net and made strong contact that push the ball into the goal.
With just over a minute remaining in the first half Delaware was able to get on the board and tie the game up at two on a cross pass from Krista Trinidad to Dani Kabat. Villanova would out shoot the Blue Hens 8-to-5 in the first half.
Just over 11 minutes into the second half of play Kayla Hughes (Hersey, Pa.) pass the ball down the field to DiClemente. She was able to break away and find the back of the net for her third goal of the game. Villanova was able to keep the Blue Hens scoreless in the second half to secure a 3-2 victory.
Head Coach Fran Kulas shared, "we are happy to get a positive result to start the season. We had contributions from 17 different players and those who came off the bench today were a very important part of our success. It is very early in the season and we have a lot of work to do moving forward, but we want to build on the positives from today as we prepare for Drexel on Sunday."
Senior goalkeeper Emmalee Meyer (Massapequa, N.Y.) played all 90 minutes in goal and finished with three saves. Both freshmen defenders Conner Huggins (Farmington Hill, Mich.) and Mandi Wilson (Germantown, Md.) made a strong impact in their first collegiate game as well playing all 90 minutes in the backfield.
The Wildcats will return to action this Sunday, August 21st at home against Drexel; game time is slated for 4:00 pm.
