Feb. 17, 2006

PRINCETON, N.J. - Villanova (0-1) opened its season on Friday evening with the first of four matches it will play at the Princeton Invitational. Against the host Tigers, three different players scored goals but the Wildcats were defeated by Princeton (1-0) 14-3 at DeNunzio Pool.

Senior driver Kim Pare (Grand Rapids, Mich.) scored the first Villanova goal in the second period, while sophomore driver Carla Martinez (Caguas, Puerto Rico) and senior defender Christina Dopp (Stockton, Calif.) also scored goals for the Wildcats.

Princeton scored six unanswered goals in the first period and was ahead 11-1 at halftime. Villanova added single goals in the third and fourth periods before the Tigers settled on the final score. Senior goalie Jess Wells (Newport Beach, Calif.) had four saves for the Wildcats, while two Princeton goalies also combined to make four saves.

Claire Jacobson and Courtney Mee each tallied two goals to lead the Tigers.

Villanova will continue competition on Saturday with matches against Maryland at 10:15 a.m. and Harvard at 3:30 p.m. The three-day competition wraps up on Sunday morning.

NOTES: The Princeton Invitational features 20 matches and 10 teams, with all competition taking place between Friday and Sunday ... The Wildcats went 1-3 at the event last season, with the win coming over MAAC rival Wagner, 9-8 ... Pare was the team's leading scorer in 2005, contributing a team-best 45 goals and 11 assists to record a team-high 56 points ... Princeton won the ECAC Championship and finished fourth at Easterns last season.