Games of September 18 – 24, 2023
September 25, 2023 –
The Villanova Wildcats remain the only unbeaten team in Philly, and started out their BIG EAST schedule with a home victory. Overall, the teams played only conference games and posted a 3 – 3 – 1 record over the week. One game was lost due to the weather as the Saint Joseph’s game against George Mason was abandoned due to an unplayable Sweeney Field pitch. Let’s take a look at more details of the sixth week of women’s soccer in Philadelphia. And what the storm did to the play of the weekend games.
The Villanova Wildcats (4 – 0 – 5, 1 – 0 – 0 BIG EAST) won their league opener 2 – 1 over Seton Hall. This is the first victory for the Wildcats that was not by a 3 – 0 score. Villanova took a 2 – 0 lead into halftime on goals by forward Makayla Stadler, her team leading 5th of the season, and junior midfielder Maddie Reid, her second. The Wildcats did not score in the second half. Seton Hall did in the 78th minute, but got no closer. Goal Keeper Payton Woodward made 3 saves. The Cats outshot the Hall 15 – 13 and had a 7 – 1 edge in corner kicks. Villanova plays only league games for the remainder of the season. The Wildcats are on a 9 game undefeated streak this season. The total number of consecutive games without a loss dates back to last year and stands at 12 games. Next week they travel to Xavier and St. John’s.
Settling into Atlantic 10 play the La Salle Explorers (4 – 5 – 2, 2 – 1 – 0 Atlantic 10) are on a two-game win streak. Both victories from 3 – 0 scores defeating the George Washington Colonials on the road and the Richmond Spiders on the McCarthy Stadium pitch. Six different players scored the Explorers goals; Haley Gschrey, Alyssa Gargiulo, Emily Banashefski, Sunni DiElmo, Justyce Hollenbach, and Courtney Butlion. Michela Auguadro played both games in goal to record her two shutouts and wins this season. Gschrey and Hollenbach lead the team in goals getting three each. La Salle had 28 shots, 11 on goal against GWU, season-high’s in both categories. A10 games are on the schedule for the rest of the season. Next up is a home game against VCU on Thursday.
The Saint Joseph’s Hawks (1 – 5 – 5, 1 – 0 -2 Atlantic 10) played to a scoreless tie at Loyola of Chicago. The Hawks and the Villanova Wildcats lead the city in ties with 5 apiece. In a defensive battle the Ramblers outshot the Hawks 15 – 5, and Loyola had the only shot on goal in the game. Saint Joe’s brought home a point and stay undefeated in conference play. SJU goal keeper Katie Cappelletti recorded her 18th career shutout to move her into first place in program history in that category. Next on the schedule is a road game at George Washington on Thursday. The abandoned game will be made up in its entirety at a later date. No statistics will be brought over to the replayed game. Saint Joe’s led 1 – 0 when play was stopped thanks to Ophelia!
The University of Pennsylvania Quakers (4 – 4 – 1, 0 – 1 – 0 Ivy League) fell in their Ivy opener 1 – 0 at Columbia. Penn is now on a two-game losing skid. The Lions outshot the Quakers 14 – 10, but the Red and Blue put six of their shots on goal to just one. However, the one Columbia shot on goal that found the back of the net was a Penn own goal in the 80th minute for the heartbreaking loss. The shot bounced off the hands of Quakers goalie Laurence Gladu. Penn plays their Ivy home opener on Saturday against Yale at Penn Park. Will the weather be better?
In the 5 – 3 loss at Towson the Drexel Dragons (4 – 5 – 2, 0 – 3 – 2 CAA) allowed the most goals in a single-game this season. Drexel never led in the game. Towson got the first two goals of the game. The Dragons got goals from defender Lily Dunbar, senior midfielder Gabrielle Perrotto, and senior defender Laila Payton. The three goal output tied the Drexel season-high for most goals scored in a single game this season. Payton also had the assist on the Perrotto goal. Both teams scored three time in the second half. Drexel seeks their first CAA win of the year. The next chance will come on Thursday at Charleston.
It took awhile for the game to get started. A weather delay of over two hours. The game did begin at 9:25 p.m. A battle of the Owls. The Florida Atlantic University version won it 2 – 0 over our Owls, the first game ever between the schools. FAU scored in the 22nd and added the insurance goal in the 83rd minute. FAU won the shots and shots on goal statistic 15 – 5 and 6 – 2. Defender Beky Myers and sophomore midfielder Fiona Kilian had the shots that required a save. The Temple Owls (2 – 6 – 3, 0 – 2 – 0 The American) seek the first AAC win on Thursday hosting Charlotte at the Temple Athletic Complex.
Hopefully, we can put the umbrellas away!
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: Glenn@PhillyCollegeSportgs.com
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