Women’s Lax Splits Series With UConn

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Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

The team celebrates after Saturday’s overtime win.

Jamie Pennington, Staff Writer

This weekend, the Villanova Women’s Lacrosse team went 1-1 in its series against the UConn Huskies, dropping the first game, 14-7, but winning the finale 13-12.

On Friday, April 16, the ‘Cats fell to UConn. Graduate student Katie Comerford, five days removed from setting a new program record for goals scored, scored three more goals as well as notching an assist, which then set a new program record for assists. Comerford is now the Villanova record holder for goals, assists and points. The Wildcat goals scored on the day came from Caroline Curnal (both unassisted), who scored two unanswered goals to start the game off 2-0. The Huskies then scored eight unanswered goals, but Comerford (unassisted), Haley Driscoll (Comerford assist),and Olivia Piccirilli (unassisted) each tallied one goal each, narrowing the score to 8-5 at half.

The second half consisted of another unassisted Comerford goal in the second minute, making the score 9-6 UConn. Comerford went on to round out her hat trick with 13 minutes remaining, scoring the ‘Cats seventh and final goal of the game. UConn finished its scoring with three unanswered goals, contributing to a final score of 14-7. Goalkeeper Alexa Moro ended the game with six saves.

The second game of the series on Sunday, however, resulted in a much different outcome for Villanova, as it won in an overtime thriller. The Wildcats recognized its six seniors; Brittany Bruno, Katie Comerford, Haley Driscoll, Kelsey Mentzer, Julianne Puckette and Liz Trojan on Senior Day. Curnal kicked off the day scoring her first unassisted goal, followed by goals from Alexa Tsahalis (unassisted), Libby McKenna (unassisted), two from Brittany Bruno (Comerford assist) and Comerford (Bruno assist). The score at half had the Wildcats down by three at 9-6. 

McKenna ignited the ‘Cats scoring in the second half, followed by another Comerford goal (Curnal assist), as well as unassisted goals by Piccirilli and Tsahalis. With 1:46 remaining in the game, Driscoll (Comerford assist) netted a goal to give the Huskies a one-goal advantage and a score of 12-11. Then, with a mere 0:34 remaining on the clock, Comerford received a pass from Bruno and scored the game-tying goal. In the sudden-death overtime period, in just under a minute and a half, Tsahalis picked off a pass at midfield and found Bruno, who scored on a breakaway, giving the Wildcats the 13-12 victory.

Villanova goalkeepers Moro and Mary Alice Collins combined for 10 saves on the day.

The Wildcats will travel to the University of Denver on April 23 and April 25 to face their fellow Big East competitors in the final regular season series.