April 15, 2006

Box Score

Towson, Md. - Villanova (5-7, 3-2 Colonial Athletic Association) came back from a four-goal deficit but ultimately fell 11-6 to the Tigers of #13 Towson University (7-4, 4-1 CAA) this evening at Johnny Unitas Stadium.

Towson held a 6-2 lead with 4:09 in the third quarter. Villanova junior Andy German's (Wayne, Pa.) first goal of the game, at 3:26, stopped a three-goal Towson streak and cut the Tigers' lead to 6-3. He scored again at 1:56 on a low attempt, unassisted. Freshman Dan Liva (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) recorded his second goal of the season on a sizzling shot from eight yards, off a pass from junior Eric Webber (Denver, Colo.) to get Villanova to within one, 6-5, with 16 seconds left in the third.

Towson held off `Nova's attempt to tie with a goal by Oliver Bacon at 13:30 in the fourth off a pretty pass by Keith Obloj. The Wildcats didn't fade away, however. Sophomore attacker Chris MacDonald (Westfield, N.J.) scored at 11:23 in the fourth to keep `Nova down only one, 7-6. But Villanova failed to clear the ball after a save from senior goalie Joe Canuso (Moorestown, N.J.) and Towson's Bobby Griebe notched an extra man goal off a quick pass by Bacon. Phil Grillo posted a hat trick with his third goal of the game at 8:45 to put the Tigers up by three, 9-6.

Obloj posted a goal at 6:52, unassisted, after dodging his way to four yards out and firing a shot low to give Towson a 10-6 lead. Brian Vetter found the back of the net on an unusual play at 1:37 for the final margin. He shot high and initially it looked like it would sail long.

The Tigers opened the scoring at 13:02 in the first with an odd goal by Nick Williams. Towson's Bacon took a shot on the right side which Canuso saved but couldn't control the rebound. Williams shoveled the ball and it rolled in the goal.

Kyle Fiat made it 2-0 Towson at 10:25 when he curled around the right side of the goal all alone and scored. Villanova got on the board at 6:22 after junior Paul Genovese (Huntington, N.Y.) caused a Towson turnover and German streaked down the field and passed to MacDonald, who rifled one past Towson goalie Mark DeGroat.

Towson upped its lead to 3-1 when Steve Mull fed Griebe from behind the goal and Griebe scored from three yards out. Towson nearly made it 4-1 with a man-up opportunity at 11:40 in the second when Tiger Grillo shot, but Canuso positioned himself exactly right to make a point-blank save. Canuso remained sparkling four minutes later when he made another close-range save on a Mull attempt.

DeGroat took his turn in the spotlight with three minutes left after Villanova intercepted a pass and sent it downfield in the stick of freshman Tim Langan, Jr. (Madison, N.J.) who passed to MacDonald. The sophomore took a diving shot from one yard out only to see it blocked by DeGroat.

Neither team scored in the second quarter. The next goal by either team came at 14:34 in the third quarter after freshman attacker Matthew Fritts (Dallas, Tex.) went in alone to notch the goal. The Tigers' Grillo, who staved off a tie with a goal at 9:55 off an assist by Obloj. Obloj made a sharp pass to Grillo who was standing directly in front of the net. A little over a minute later, Brian Vetter scored off an assist by Fiat to put Towson up 5-2.

Towson continued its run with Grillo's second goal, also off a feed from Obloj that made it 6-2 with 4:09 in the third.

The Tigers won their 14th straight varsity game against the Wildcats. Junior face-off specialist Chris Colliniates (Atlantic Beach, N.Y.) won 12 of 20 face-offs and had eight groundballs. Canuso made 13 saves for his ninth game with 10+ saves.