VILLANOVA, Pa. The Villanova Wildcats (2-0) took on the Saint Joseph's Hawks (0-3) on their home turf for the first time this season, defeating the Hawks 14-13. Graduate student Caroline Curnal led the team with five goals, followed by sophomore Sydney Pappas who scored four. Curnal came in clutch with a game winner with only eight seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

Villanova started the game off strong with two back-to-back goals from Curnal. The score remained 2-0 for seven minutes until Sarah Groark and Maddie Yoder responded with a goal each, making the score 2-2 with eight minutes left in the first half. Villanova's Sami Carey scored an unassisted goal to put the Cats back on top at 3-2. Pappas quickly charged back down the field and scored two of her four goals for Villanova, the first one being assisted by Elena Torres and the second by Sami Carey. The Cats took the lead at the end of the first quarter 5-2.

Saint Joe's came out hot in the second quarter with Riley Evans and Maddie Yoder adding two points to the scoreboard, making it 5-4. Torres, who had a phenomenal career debut last week versus William & Mary, responded by scoring an unassisted goal. Two minutes later Evans attacked the defensive line and scored two goals less than a minute apart. Pappas retaliated with an unassisted goal to take us into the second half at 7-6.

Evans refused to be stopped when she came out in the third quarter with her fourth goal of the game. Thirty seconds later, Maddie Yoder scored and put the Hawks in the lead for the first time all game at 8-7. Responding to this lead, Villanova went on a five goal spree with goals from Pappas, Carey, Curnal, Maddie Luer, and Torres. To finish out the third quarter, Bella Miceli and Evans scored a goal a piece to make the score 12-10 going into the final quarter.

Curnal scored her fourth goal about five minutes into the fourth quarter, and luckily, it was not her last. This was quickly counteracted by the Hawks when they tied the game once again with goals coming from Maggie Davidson, Bonnie Yu, and Emma O'Neill. With just eight seconds left on the clock and overtime on the horizon, Curnal fought her way through and pushed one passed the keeper to win the game for the Wildcats.

When asked what this win means to her, head coach Jill Batcheller says,"Tonight's win feels great! I'm so happy for this team to come up with the team win. Our team backed each other up at the right times, played poised at key moments, and found a way to win against a talented and gritty Saint Joseph's team!"

Villanova takes on La Salle University Wednesday, February 22^nd, at 1:00 PM at home.

NOTES: Curnal had eight draw controls…Carey had two goals and two assists…Elena Torres had two goals and two assists... This is the first time the Wildcats have been the Hawks since 2018