By edging out Penn on Wednesday night, the field hockey team won its third straight victory and improved to an overall 6-4 record.

The win did not come easy for the ‘Cats. Even with two penalty strokes and two penalty corners in the first half, they were unable to capitalize and gain an edge over the Quakers. Both teams managed only six shots on goal in the first half.

The game remained scoreless until the 62:05 mark when Villanova’s Rory Rogers connected on an outside shot. Ultimately, the ‘Cats held off Penn and the great offensive effort of Quaker forward Cara Calahan. The 1-0 win marked sophomore goalie Erica Scott’s third shutout of the season.

Before defeating Penn, the Wildcats breezed by the Scarlet Knights, 5-1, in their second Big East match of the season las Saturday.

Villanova’s offensive game shined as the team out-shot Rutgers 18-8. The victory was a full team effort in that four of ‘Nova’s five goals came from different players.

The Wildcats immediately set the tone of the match after Megan Foster scored off the first of the team’s 14 penalty corners. Foster’s goal, which came in the first three minutes of the game, was assisted by Vanessa Pizzulli and right forward Lauren Campenelli, who earned their fourth and seventh assists of the season, respectively.

Campenelli, who is one of the three forwards leading the team in points with 15, would score later in the game, bringing her total goals for the season to four.

After freshman midfielder Stephanie Cambell connected with the net for her first career goal, the three players on the forward line, Foster, Campenelli and Rory Rogers, also each added another tally.

“The forward line has really been concentrating on working together to get the job done,” Campenlli said. “In the few games before Rutgers, we were having trouble finishing, but on Saturday we really came together to put the ball in the cage.”

Foster, who leads Villanova in both points (21) and goals (nine) this season, scored the Wildcats’ final goal with 33 seconds left to play in regulation.

Although close to being shut out, Rutgers finally got on the board after being awarded a penalty stroke; however, by then, the damage had been done.

On Tuesday the Wildcats host Monmouth (NJ) at 4 p.m. The team’s next Big East competition takes place at home on Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. against Syracuse.