Even with a gallant second-half rally, the women’s lacrosse team was unable to make the complete comeback against the University of Connecticut Saturday night in Storrs, Conn. The 10-8 loss put the Wildcats to 7-5 overall and 0-4 in Big East play. The Huskies opened the game with a goal, but sophomore Justine Donodeo found the net after an Erica Rybinski assist to tie the score. 

The Huskies kept momentum into the second half with a quick goal to widen the lead to 6-2. Two additional early goals put pressure on the Wildcats to stop the run. Forty seconds later, Sarah Berger connected with the net to end the UConn run and spark the Wildcat rally at a score of 8-3. 

The score did not change for 10 minutes before UConn scored with 12:54 left in regulation. 

Donodeo answered back 20 seconds later, followed by another goal off the bench from freshman Maria Bowman to cut the lead to 9-5. Another Connecticut goal with 10:47 left did not deter the Wildcats from their rally. 

Donodeo posted her third goal of  the game from a Rybinski assist, and Rybinski and Shawna Giust added a goal each to bring the game within two for the Wildcats. However, the UConn defense prevented any further Wildcat advances, and the game ended in a Connecticut victory, 10-8. The victory marked UConn’s first Big East win of the season. Villanova goalie Maggie Langan made five saves. 

The Wildcats followed up the UConn loss with a loss to Syracuse. Haley Quillilan scored six goals for the Orange. The 18-3 defeat completed a difficult road swing for Villanova. The Wildcats take on Loyola on the road in its final Big East game of the season Saturday at 1 p.m.