Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 3/29/25 – From Press Release
Colin Michener (Penn Charter) scored 70 seconds into overtime tonight to lift Villanova to a stunning 10-9 win over host and 20th-ranked Denver in a Big East opener.
This is the Wildcats’ second consecutive win over the Pioneers, with the first coming in the BIG EAST Semifinal at Villanova Stadium on May 2, 2024.
To open the extra period, Villanova won the faceoff with a ground ball pickup by Michener (2G, 3A), who got it back after throwing it around the horn to score the golden goal before parading around the field helmetless with the Villanova fans who traveled out to Colorado.
Beau Kemler starred on defense, scooping up 10 ground balls, a season high for a Wildcat, and three caused turnovers. Tyler Sandoval continued his stellar season in the circle, going 13-15 (.813%) in the circle, increasing his season winning percentage to .632%. He also picked up six ground balls.
Matt Licata had two goals and an assist and Michener’s little brother, Gavin Michener (Penn Charter) scored twice while Nicholas Mucchesi (Radnor) scored once.
Villanova went 17-23 (.739%) at the center “X” on the day in total, as Ryan Cunningham (Salesianum School) won four of seven (.571%).
Denis Fargione made eight saves, including seven in the first half while holding the Pioneers to five goals, helping lower his GAA to 9.66 after allowing just four in the second half and overtime.
Starting things off, Denver got going first on a goal from Marek Tzagournis.
https://x.com/NovaAthletics/status/1906140203376357580
Colin Michener answered back before the Pioneers struck for two more. But Luke Raymond closed the first frame on a jumping try that landed in the net, and Lucchesi wound up from deep and fired it past Malcolm Kleban to knot the game at three to kick off the second stanza.
Villanova took its first lead of the day, a 4-3 advantage, on a Daniel Flaim goal, sending it in off the weak side, assisted by C. Michener, for the freshman’s first career score.
Entering the break, Villanova trailed 5-4 after Denver’s Tewaaraton Award Watch List nominee attacker Noah Manning tallied two goals from just outside the crease.
The game stayed scoreless for the next 12:19, with both teams’ defensive regimes battling it out.
Tzagournis got the scoring started again with five minutes to go in the third quarter, but that tally brought momentum to the Wildcats instead.
Gavin Michener picked up two goals in the final 3:14 of the third, coming on assists from Licata and his brother Colin.
The game was halted at 10:58 to go in the fourth quarter due to a lightning delay, which lasted 99 minutes.
Licata got the ball rolling immediately after the break was over, scoring two goals in four minutes to give the ‘Cats an 8-7 lead.
Senior attackman Dan Martin made his first appearance of the season after missing the first eight games and scored VU’s ninth goal, giving the Cats their largest lead of the game with 5:28 to go in regulation.
Denver was able to cash in twice in the final three minutes to send the game to extra time, capped off by the first goal of the season by LSM Chris Caldwell, after his errant pass went into the net.
