University of Toledo
Villanova
Toledo Falls to Villanova in NCAA Tournament, 5-1
11/10/2006 12:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Final Stats | Quotes
STATE COLLEGE, PA - Villanova scored three first-half goals and posted a 5-1 victory over Toledo on Friday night in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament at Jeffrey Field. The first-round match of the 64-team tourney was held on the campus of Penn State.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 16-3-2 on the season, and advance to face No. 2 seed Penn State in Sunday's second round. The Nittany Lions were a 3-1 winner over Niagara in Friday's first match.
The Rockets, who were making the first national tourney appearance in the 12-year history of the program, end the season with an overall record of 9-9-4.
UT started out the game strong and had a chance to take the early lead just 8:10 into the match. Senior Julia Lyons got the ball rolling for the 2006 MAC Tournament Champions with a long free kick down the right side of the field to classmate Diana Ginley. The Olmsted Falls, OH native tried to cross the ball into the middle of the VU goalbox to sophomore Annie Sullivan who was open for a split second, but a Wildcats defender recovered quickly and cleared the ball out of danger to end the threat.
Villanova quickly responded and started to apply quite a bit of pressure to the UT defense. The pressure paid off as the home team on the scoreboard broke through for the matches' first goal at 12:38 off a corner kick. The initial cross came into the box and VU's Kelly Eagan headed the ball toward the goal. Unfortunately the Rockets were unable to make the clear and the Wildcats' Jenna Gordon headed it into the back of the net for the tally.
Two minutes later, VU nearly added to its lead when Erin Byrnes was wide open on the right side and her shot just sailed wide of the target.
The Wildcats kept the pressure on the Rockets and doubled their advantage at 16:24 on a tally off a cross from the right side by Erin Hardiman from Kaley Guthrie.
Facing a two-goal deficit, Toledo had its best scoring opportunity of the first half at 31:03 on a cross from the left side by freshman Molly Cornwell, but the Villanova goalkeeper Jillian Loyden intercepted the pass right before classmate Ali Leak was able to get her head on it.
Villanova kept to its attack and made the score 3-0 at the intermission on a tally by Nikki Maberry off a corner kick at 31:59. Kayce Blandford was credited with the assist. Maberry got inside the UT defense and out-jumped everyone to establish a three-goal cushion at the half.
In the second half, the Wildcats continued to pour it on and upped their advantage at 66:37 on Maberry's second goal of the match. Jessica Carnivale crossed the ball into the middle of the UT goal box to Gordon, who flicked it to Maberry, who promptly blasted a shot home from about 10-yards out.
Villanova finished off its scoring at 77:15 on a goal by Megan Farmer. Both Stacia Hartung and Blandford were credited with assists off the corner kick.
Despite the five-goal deficit and not having many starters in the contest, the Rockets refused to go quietly and scored an unassisted goal by Leak at 88:54. The Westerville, OH native won a ball in free space at around the top of the VU goalbox and chipped one in over the head of the goalkeeper for her fourth goal of the season.
For the match, the Wildcats held a 21-5 advantage in shots, and had 10 shots on goal to the Rockets two.
The match marked the final collegiate contest for UT's nine-member senior class. Seniors Andrea Burtscher, Ashley Gerwin, Diana Ginley, Sarah Hazenfield, Julia Lyons, Elizabeth Marchand, Jen Whipple, Nichole Williams and Kirsty Wilson round out the senior class for the Midnight Blue and Gold.
Villanova 5, TOLEDO 1
VU: J. Gordon (Eagan), 12:38
VU: E. Hardiman (Guthrie), 16:24
VU: N. Mayberry (Blandford), 31:59
VU: N. Maberry (Carnevale, Gordon), 66:37
VU: M. Farmer (Hartung, Blandford), 77:15
UT: A.Leak (Unassisted), 88:54
SHOTS: UT 5, VU 21
CORNER KICKS: UT 0, VU 10
SAVES: UT 5, VU 3
FOULS: UT 3, VU 6
