March 30, 2007

Final Stats

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Villanova got three goals and three assists from freshman Erica Rybinski while sophomore Taryn McKenna added four goals to help lift the Wildcats (3-5) to a 15-13 over victory over Longwood in a women's lacrosse match played here at Villanova Stadium this evening.

The Wildcats carried the play in the game's opening minutes, scoring three goals in the first nine minutes to build an early cushion. But the Lancers tallied six of the next seven scores in just six minutes, with three of those coming off the stick of Shannon Strain. Taryn McKenna netted a goal off a free position shot at 15:07 to halt the Longwood surge and that was followed by another `Cat score by Rybinski to knot the game at six with 14:35 left.

Longwood scored three of the next four to build a 9-7 advantage with 6:04 left in the first period. Rybinski answered with an unassisted score at 1:12 to close the gap to 9-8 at intermission.

Villanova duplicated its fast start in the second half, again netting the first three scores of the period on goals from Meg Wallace, Taylor Lucy and Shannon Sullivan to construct an 11-9 lead. The Lancers drew to within a goal on a Shannon Strain score before Villanova senior Christina Bahrs answered at 24:13 to make it 12-10. A Liz Sellmayer goal for the Lancers cut the margin to 12-11 before Villanova got goals from Taylor Lucy and Wallace to build a 14-11 lead with 14:47 left.

The Lancers scored twice to narrow the gap to one with 10:44 to go but freshman Cassie Eure - who relieved starter Jessica Brozena in net - kept Longwood off the scoreboard and preserved the win. Taryn McKenna gave the Wildcats some breathing room by scoring with 47 seconds left in regulation to make the final 15-13.

Taylor Lucy and Wallace each scored twice for Villanova while Bahrs, Shannon Sullivan and Kyler O'Shea also netted a goal apiece for the `Cats. Shannon Strain led Longwood with four goals on the day while Cathleen Strain added three.

Next up for Villanova is a Sunday matinee against area rival La Salle at noon. That game will be played at Temple's Geasey Field.