Sept. 9, 2005

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - The Villanova Wildcats (3-1) recorded their first loss of the 2005 season 3-1 against Penn State (5-1) at Astroturf Field Friday night. Despite a strong night from junior goalkeeper, Erin Scott (Malvern, Pa./West Chester East) with eight saves, the Wildcats could not overcome two second half goals by the Lions.

The Nittany Lions got on the board first off of a penalty corner rebound. Penn State had the corner and took the shot. Scott stopped the first ball but junior Annelise Legel was able to control the rebound and get it past the Wildcat "D".

Penn State remained up until the final seconds of the first half when `Nova turned up the heat forcing a penalty corner. Senior Sarah Francis (Hummelstown, Pa./Hershey)took the first shot, which was saved, but Rory Rogers(Rosemont, Pa./Sacred Heart Academy) found the rebound and slid it to sophomore Catherine Somits ( West Chester, Pa./West Chester East) for the goal as time expired making the score 1-1 at the half. This also marked Somits' first goal on the season.

The Wildcats came out fired up in the second half, but again, Penn State was the first to strike. Penalty corners proved to be the team's nemesis as Nittany Lions freshman, Allison Scola, fired the ball into the back of the net just six minutes into the second half.

The home team tallied a security goal at 6:40 off to make the score 3-1. Senior Bekah Hostetler took another rebound off of Scott's pads to sneak in the final goal of the evening.

The Wildcats ended the night with eight saves, four shots and two penalty corners while Penn State finished with three saves, fifteen shots and six penalty corners.

Villanova stays on the road this weekend with a game against Temple in the Temple Invitational at Geasey Field scheduled for three o'clock.