April 20, 2008

BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, N.Y. - In a pair of matches played on Saturday at the St. Francis (N.Y.) pool, Villanova (3-22, 0-8 MAAC) was led by senior driver Carla Martinez (Caguas, Puerto Rico). Martinez scored a total of six goals in the two games for the Wildcats, who were defeated 21-9 by Marist and 14-6 by the host Terriers.

Villanova played its first match of the day against the defending league regular season champion Red Foxes. Marist scored six goals in each of the first two quarters and led 12-5 at halftime. The Wildcats netted two goals in the first quarter, three in both the second and third periods and one in the fourth quarter.

Martinez scored a team-high four goals against the Red Foxes, while freshman Maria Apablasa (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) scored three times and freshman Kathleen Maloney (Chicago, Ill.) had two goals.

For the first time this season, Villanova used sophomore Andrea La Fevers (Boca Raton, Fla.) in goal. The second-year player has made contributions both in the net and as an offensive performer for the Wildcats in her two seasons with the team. She made six saves in goal against Marist.

Later in the day, Villanova took on St. Francis in its only conference match of the season played in another team's home pool. The final score was not indicative of the balance of play between the two sides, as the Wildcats were outshot by a slim 20-17 margin by the Terriers. However, St. Francis goalie Brandy Creek made saves on 11 of the 17 Villanova shots to help lead the Terriers to the win.

Martinez and Maloney had two goals apiece for the Wildcats, who trailed 4-2 at the end of the first quarter and 9-4 at halftime. Senior Julie Ramaley (Old Greenwich, Conn.) and sophomore Marissa Hermann (Pequannock, N.J.) scored one goal apiece for Villanova and senior goalie Erin Foley (Chicago, Ill.) tallied eight saves.

The Wildcats wrapped up the final weekend of the regular season on Sunday with matches against Siena and Iona that were played at Wagner.