Nov. 14, 2003

Final Stats

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. - On Friday, Nov. 14th, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Klockner Stadium in Charlottesville, Va., the 15th ranked Villanova women's soccer team scored two goals within a two-minute span in the first half and held on down the stretch to defeat Princeton by the score of 2-1. The Wildcats advance to the round of 32 where they will take on the University of Virginia Cavaliers on Sunday, Nov. 16th, at 1:00 p.m., in Charlottesville. Villanova (15-5-3) broke the school record for wins in a season with Friday's victory over the Tigers.

The Wildcat offense came out strong on Friday evening in cold, windy conditions at Klockner Stadium. With 18:43 gone in the first half, a header by sophomore forward Lindsey Finnegan found the back of the net and appeared to give the `Cats an early lead, but the goal was disallowed as the referee called Finnegan off-sides on the play.

Villanova would get on the scoreboard at the 22:10 mark thanks to tremendous ball-work by senior midfielder Elizabeth Dauble. Dauble took a pass from junior midfielder Erica Stewart, dribbled to the top of the box, and hit a hard grounder into the lower right corner of the net from 12 yards out to give the Wildcats the 1-0 lead. The goal was Dauble's first of the season.

Less than two minutes later, at the 23:43 mark, the `Cats extended their lead. Dauble had the ball at the top right of the box and lofted a high cross to the left post where Finnegan finished the one-timer. Finnegan's goal, her team-leading eighth of the season, increased the Villanova advantage to 2-0.

Princeton would cut the Wildcats' lead in half before intermission, however. The Tigers' Maura Gallagher sent a free kick to the center of the box. Forward Theresa Sherry got a head on the ball and sent a header into the far right corner of the net to cut the Villanova lead to 2-1.

The Wildcats took their 2-1 lead into intermission. The game would remain that way into the second half as the two teams began a physical battle that would last for the remainder of the contest.

With 18:40 left in the game, a shot by Villanova forward Regina Villari appeared headed towards the back of the net, but Princeton keeper Emily Vogelzang leaped in the air to knock the ball just over the net for a save.

The Tigers began to rally offensively as the clocked clicked down to 15 minutes remaining in the match. At the 85:40 mark, Princeton midfielder Elizabeth Pillion got through the Villanova defense and took a wideopen shot from 15 yards out. The shot went just high keeping the score at 2-1.

Just two minutes later, Wildcat defender Kristin Anderson came up with one of the big plays of the game. With Villanova keeper Chrissy Dolan out of the net, the Tigers' Emily Behncke knocked a shot towards the net, which Anderson made the defensive stop on to save a potential Princeton goal.

Behncke continued her offensive prowess down the stretch for Princeton. With 11:30 remaining, she lofted a high popup towards the goal, but Dolan jumped up to snag the ball out of the air. At the 80:35 mark, Behncke blasted a shot at the Villanova goal, but the ball hit the crossbar and bounced away from harm's way.

Dolan would come up with one more magnificent save for the Wildcats, leading in the air to pull down a Kristina Fontanez offering with 3:50 left in the contest.

Princeton had one last shot with five seconds remaining, but a Behncke shot sailed high as Villanova escaped with a 2-1 victory.

Dolan had a game-high four saves in net for the Wildcats.

Finnegan and Dauble had tremendous games offensively for Villanova. Dauble had one goal and one assist, while Finnegan posted the game-winning goal.

Villanova and Virginia will now battle for the right to go to the sweet 16. The two teams will face off on Sunday, at 1:00 p.m. in Charlottesville. Listen to the game live on villanova.com audiocast. Just click on the audio/video link on the top of the villanova.com homepage and look for the women's soccer link for Sunday's contest.