On Thursday, Feb. 19, Villanova men’s hockey defeated No. 21 West Chester, 4–3, in an overtime victory over one of the top teams in ACHA Division I. Sophomore Charles Davis, who scored a hat trick that night, had the final goal to claim the overtime win over the Rams.
West Chester (23-8-0-0) carried a 13-game winning streak into the contest, while the Wildcats (21-4-0-2) had won five straight. The Rams also boasted one of the nation’s most explosive offenses, averaging over five goals per game.
Defenseman James Reagan gave the Wildcats a 1–0 lead in the first period. West Chester quickly answered, beginning a pattern that would define the night. Each time Villanova gained momentum, the Rams responded.
Charles Davis put the Wildcats back in front with his first goal of the evening, but West Chester quickly evened the score. The back-and-forth continued into the third period, with Davis scoring his second to keep Villanova ahead, only for the Rams to tie the game yet again, forcing overtime in a 3–3 deadlock.
With the game on the line in the extra frame, Davis delivered the final goal. The forward buried his third goal of the night to seal the 4–3 victory and ignite the Wildcats’ bench.
“It’s always great to get a big win against a great team,” assistant coach Sean Martin said. “WCU is a talented team and one of the top teams in our league. We are 2–0 against them this season and have proven we can hang with anyone.”
The win marks back-to-back 20-win seasons for Villanova and strengthens its postseason résumé heading into tournament play.
“We are a talented group that works hard and loves to compete,” Martin said. “That’s back-to-back seasons with 20-plus wins. This is a special group of players, and we have a few more goals to check off this season.”
Statistically, the matchup featured two high-powered offenses. Villanova entered the game with 110 goals on the season and one of the league’s most efficient power plays (28.89%), while West Chester had totaled 163 goals and was riding a perfect 10–0 record in its last 10 games. The Wildcats’ disciplined play and ability to capitalize in key moments ultimately made the difference.
With the regular season winding down, Villanova now turns its attention to the ECHA playoffs. The quarterfinals (Feb. 28) and semifinals (March 1) will be held in Allentown, PA, with Lehigh serving as host. The championship game is set for March 7.
The ‘Cats may face West Chester again, with even higher stakes than before.
