Oct. 28, 2003

Final Stats

VILLANOVA, PA. - In the home and regular season finale for the Villanova women's soccer team on Tuesday, Oct. 28th, at the Villanova Soccer Complex, the Wildcats shut out Loyola College, 3-0, to increase their win streak to three games during which time they have outscored their opponents 9-0. Villanova wound down the regular season with a 13-5-1 overall record, including a perfect 8-0-1 mark at home. The shutout was the 12th in 19 games this season for the Wildcats, who got goals from Regina Villari, Laura Johnson and Janessa Jeltema in the win as well as two assists from Laura Koch. The Greyhounds fell to 8-8-1 overall on the year with the loss.

Both team's offenses had numerous early chances in the contest, but saw those opportunities go by the way-side as each squad's goalkeeper notched several early saves.

At the 35:24 mark of the first half, the Wildcats took the game's first lead. Koch found Johnson with a lead pass at the right side of the box in Loyola territory. Johnson sent a cross towards the left post which, Villari headed into the net for her fourth goal of the season to give Villanova the 1-0 lead.

With just 2:17 remaining before intermission, the Wildcats added to their advantage. Koch again connected with Johnson, who dribbled in to the top left of the box where she uncorked a blast from 20 yards out. Greyhound keeper Kate Gilfillan could only watch, as Johnson's shot sailed into the top right of the net to increase the Villanova lead to 2-0 at the break.

The Wildcats came out in the second half with the same intensity their ended the first half with. Just 7:31 into the second half, Villanova capped off the day's scoring. Villari deflected a loose ball to the right of the Loyola goal, which Jeltema knocked home for the Wildcats third goal of the contest. Jeltema's goal, which now gives her two goals and four assists for eight points in the last three games, sent the `Cats to a 3-0 victory.

In her final home regular season start in net, senior Chrissy Dolan saved six shots to earn her 12th shutout. She now has 26.5 shutouts in her Villanova career.

Koch hurt the Greyhounds both offensively and defensively on Tuesday. She blocked a number of Loyola shots, keeping the Greyhounds offense off-guard all afternoon long. In addition, she registered the first two assists of her Villanova career.

Johnson and Villari each scored their fourth goals of the season in the game. Johnson, who has two goals and two assists in her last three games, now has four goals and nine assists for the year. Villari now has four goals and two assists in 2003.

Villanova will now travel to Storrs, Conn., where the Wildcats will take on the Connecticut Huskies in the Big East Championship Quarterfinals on Sunday, Nov. 2nd, at 1:00 p.m.