On Saturday, March 21, Villanova women’s lacrosse defeated Xavier, 14-8, in its first Big East conference game of the season and Senior Day celebration.
“It’s such a special day for the seniors,” head coach Jill Batcheller said. “They’ve given four years of a lot of heart and hustle to this team, and it was a beautiful day. We had an awesome cheering section and a great win.”
The victory stretches the ‘Cats (6-3, 1-0 Big East) to an undefeated four game winning streak against the Musketeers (2-8, 0-1 Big East) since their first meeting in 2023. During the teams’ most recent meeting in April 2025, the Wildcats defeated Xavier, 18-9, on the road in Cincinnati, OH.
Junior midfielder Rose Christie led the ‘Cats, scoring three of seven total shot-attempts. Two of Christie’s goals came within 1:07 of each other and were separated by a goal scored by sophomore midfielder Leslie Iorio.
Iorio’s point marked her first hat trick of the season and was assisted by junior midfielder Sophia Corretjer.
Corretjer totaled four assists, following redshirt sophomore midfielder Mary Moore’s five assists.
Junior midfielder Emma Verhoest managed 11 draw controls last Saturday. Verhoest is two draw controls away from breaking the Wildcat career program record of 382.
The Musketeers were led by redshirt junior midfielder Samantha Balara who scored four goals.
Villanova collected two yellow card penalties from senior midfielder Amber DeRosa and Moore. Xavier fell into penalty trouble, racking up two yellow cards and eight green cards.
Seven minutes into play, senior attacker Ashlyn Hickey opened up the game’s scoresheet.
Xavier quickly retaliated, tying the game, 1-1.
The two teams scored back-and-forth until Villanova put away five unanswered goals in the second period.
Senior midfielder Isabella Henson-Vendrell scored Villanova’s ninth goal after a foul on Xavier’s Colby Wasson gave Henson-Vendrell a free-position goal, putting the ‘Cats up, 9-5.
Heading into intermission, the ‘Cats had the 10-5 advantage.
“She’s [Isabella Henson-Vendrell] really the heart of the team,” Batcheller said. That goal really sparked the team on our run in the second quarter.”
The goal marked Henson-Vendrell’s first of the season. Her last score was made during her rookie season in Villanova’s 16-12 victory over Quinnipiac on March 18, 2023.
“I think I’ve definitely grown as an individual and an athlete on this team…they’re the ones that allow me to kind of be that leader that I want to be and to continue to step up for my teammates,” Henson-Vendrell said. “I’m really trying to embody [leadership] and embrace that in my final year and really lead this team where we want to go, which is the Big East Championship.”
In the second half, Villanova maintained its momentum, scoring two more unanswered goals in the third period.
Xavier ended its scoring drought with 12:34 remaining it the game, cutting its deficit to to seven goals, 13-6.
In the game’s remaining minutes, redshirt junior attacker Elena Torres scored Villanova’s final goal.
Xavier managed to put two more behind the net, before the game ended with a Wildcat win, 14-8.
“I think we’ve had a lot of great competition so far in our non-conference season,” Batcheller said. “I think what we’re looking to do is just gain a little bit more consistency offensively, defensively, and in the clears.”
Villanova will play one more non-conference game before continuing its Big East, hosting No. 2 Stanford (10-0, 6-0 ACC) on Saturday, March 28, at Villanova Stadium. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. and will be played in an early celebration of Easter.
