PHILADELPHIA – In their first time facing the No. 20 Saint Joseph's Hawks since March 13, 2007, Villanova Men's Lacrosse was unable to outlast them, as they were defeated by a score of 12-8.

Colin Michener scored three goals, a season high, with two coming in the final five minutes as the Wildcats attempted a comeback.

Ryan Cunningham starred at the center X, going 15-22 (.681), including winning 14 of his first 17 faceoffs and picking up five ground balls.

Saint Joe's got on the board first, scoring twice across the first eight minutes. Luke Raymond took advantage of an open side of the net after Lucas Newton sent over the ground ball that he picked up to tally the 'Cats' first goal.

The Hawks scored the next four, moving the deficit to five as they held a 6-1 lead 22 minutes into the game.

Nicholas Lucchesi sent one into the back of the net at blazing speed to break the Wildcat scoreless streak.

Saint Joseph's would tack on two more, one coming on a man-up opportunity, to go into the break leading by a score of 8-2.

For the second consecutive game, the Wildcats offense awoke in the third quarter, scoring six goals across the second half, as they have totaled 14 second half goals across their last two games. Their 17 goals in the third quarter this season are their most in any quarter.

After the Hawks scored to open the quarter on a goal by Tyler Moore while up a man, the Wildcats rattled off three consecutive goals. The first came from the stick of Gavin Michener, who was making his first career start.

Attackers David Link and Matt Licata were the next two to cash in for Villanova, as they cut the deficit down to four, trailing 9-5, into a media timeout.

The Hawks' Trae Ika scored the first of his two goals to end the Wildcat scoring run, forcing VU to enter the final frame down five.

The elder Michener recorded all three of his scores in the fourth quarter; however, Saint Joe's had the answer for all three of them, as Ika notched his second of the day off of a rebound to extend the lead to 12-8 with three minutes remaining. Licata assisted on two of the goals, picking up his first multi-assist game of the season.

Jack Shoemaker and Jake Melchionni got right back to their defensive ways against the Hawks, tallying two turnovers apiece.

Denis Fargione totaled nine saves in the cage and picked up two ground balls.

For the Hawks, their leading scorer on the season, Ben Dutton, tallied three goals. Goalkeeper Tommy Gross saved 19 Wildcat shots, a career high for the junior. Levi Verch, among the nation's best in picking up GBs, scooped up seven, as well as scoring his first goal of the season.

FAST FACTS
Cunningham set the Wildcat's season high for faceoff wins in a game, with 16, the most since Justin Coppola went 18-24 against Monmouth on March 16, 2024. He now is 36-63 (.571%) on the year.

Villanova is 91-158 (.578%) in the circle this season.

Colin Michener has scored 10 goals in five career games against teams from Philadelphia, the city in which he went to high school, averaging two goals per game.

Entering the game, Saint Joseph's ranked as the number one team in the country in opposing percentage at .708%. Villanova went 22-26 (.846%) on clear attempts in Saturday's contest.

UP NEXT
After this matchup, the Wildcats return home to take on the Brown University Bears of the Ivy League on Monday, March 17, at Villanova Stadium. The promotions for Monday's game against the Bears will be Military Appreciation Day, St. Patrick's Day, and the HeadSTRONG Game.

TICKETING
Individual game tickets are available for the rest of the season; please check here for more information and to purchase tickets for upcoming games.

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