Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 3/9/22
From Press Release
The visiting Pennsylvania women’s lacrosse team used a strong fourth quarter to overcome a three-goal deficit to No. 24 Drexel on Wednesday afternoon to claim a 9-8 victory at Vidas Field.
Quaker Notemeal
*Penn’s all-time record against Drexel moves to 15-2.
*Anna Brandt registered her first career hat trick, scoring two of her three goals in the fourth-quarter comeback.
*Keeley Block had two goals, both in the fourth, including the game-tying goal with 10:34 remaining.
*The Quakers dominated the draw, 16-6, led by Aly Feeley with five and Kennon Moon and Kaitlyn Cumiskey with four each.
*Cumiskey tied with a game-high three points with Brandt, scoring a goal and sending out two assists.
*Kelly Van Hoesen and Krissy Kowalski split time in the net. Kowalski earned the win for her final 30 minutes in the game, making seven saves including two in the closing two minutes to keep the Dragons from sending the game to extra time.
How It Happened
The Quakers were first to find the back of the net in the game with Cumiskey finding Moon open on the right side of the crease for her seventh goal of the season.
The first half had five ties and four lead changes, seeing goals by Cumiskey, Feeley, and Brandt before the break.
The second half was a slow start for Penn, not finding the back of the net in the third quarter while the Dragons added two more by Hayleigh Simpson and Lucy Schneidereith to take their largest lead of the game into the final frame, 8-5.
In the fourth quarter, the Quakers flipped the script. Through 15 minutes, Penn didn’t allow a Drexel goal and piled up four-straight goals of its own to take the win.
Anna Brandt started the stretch, scoring her second goal of the game less than a minute off the opening draw. Block came onto the scene with her first finish at the 11:13 mark, catching a pass by Taylyn Stadler to get Penn within one. Just 30 seconds later, Sophie Davis scooped a loose ball and found Block wide open at the crease for the game-tying goal.
With less than 10 minutes remaining, the defense stepped up for the Quakers. Kowalski was a big part of that, making three big saves in the closing minutes including a doorstep stop with 9:07 left to keep the score knotted at 8-8.
As time ticked down, Brandt was awarded a free-position attempt on the left side of the fan. Driving in, she went low and between the Drexel keeper’s legs to cap off her hat trick and score the game-winning goal.
Although ahead, there was still four minutes remaining in the game. In the final minute, the Dragons had one last opportunity to send the game to regulation. Drexel’s Corinne Bednarik (Downingtown West, 1G, 2A) was locked down by Grace Fujinaga, but she managed to get a shot off inside the eight-meter fan. However, Kowalski was ready to go inside the crease, pulling in the critical save and earn her second victory in the net this season.
Villanova 14, la Salle 3
On a cold and rainy Wednesday afternoon, the Wildcats routed the Explorers. With the win, Villanova improved to 2-5 on the season, while La Salle will share the same record, falling to 2-5.
The balanced effort on offense was highlighted by 10 different Wildcats scoring goals and a career day from senior Olivia Piccirilli.
Freshman Sydney Pappas began the scoring for Villanova, netting the first goal at the 13:34 mark of the first period. Villanova would not forfeit this lead for the remainder of the game. Seconds later, sophomore Jessie Lee scored her first goal of the season, off a pass from junior Cara Moreau. After a La Salle goal, the Wildcats would score the next nine of the contest, running into the middle of the third period. Piccrilli would score all three of her goals during this run, one in each of the first three periods, setting a career high.
The nine goal run saw six different Wildcats score, including Piccrilli’s hat-trick, two from freshman Sami Carey,and goals from seniors Libby McKenna and Alexa Tsahalis, junior Addie Fischer, and sophomore Jenna Greason, her first of the season.
A stout defensive effort was led by the back line of Molly Dunphey, Hanna Driscoll, Sydney Frank and goalkeeper Alexa Moro. La Salle mustered 12 shots and seven on goal in the first three periods, with Moro making five saves, allowing two goals.
Midway through the third period, Isabella Francati scored to give the ‘Cats a 10 goal lead at 12-2. McKenna would net her second at the 3:43 mark off a pass from Piccrilli. The assist would give the Davidsonville, Maryland native Piccrilli a game and career high four points.
The fourth and final period saw a group of freshman record their first career stats at Villanova. Megan Reilly scored her first collegiate goal, making the score 14-3 in the waning moments of the game. Goalkeepers Cate Gallagher and Kate Montalto each saw action in the fourth and both recorded their first career saves. Montalto would save four total shots.