BOX SCORE VILLANOVA, Pa. (Sept. 15, 2013) – Villanova scored a pair of first half goals and held on to defeat the Saint Francis U women's soccer team, 2-1, Sunday in a non-conference match.

After a sluggish first half, The Red Flash (3-4-1) looked much improved after the intermission, shutting down the Wildcats offense while creating more sustained offensive possessions.  SFU took four shots in the period, three of which were on goal.

However, only senior defender Alecia McNiff (Marietta, Pa./Donegal )'s 71st minute tip-in found the back of the net.  The goal was the All-America candidate's third of the season, doubling her career total to six.  Junior Eloa Nascimento set up the score with a free kick from just outside the 18 yard box.

For the game, Villanova (3-3-2) took 16 shots to SFU's 10, but shots on goal were much tighter with the Wildcats holding an 8-to-7 edge.  Both teams took three corner kicks in the contest.

Villanova's Christina Camassa opened up the scoring in the 13th minute on a shot that snuck just under the cross bar.  Seven minutes later Victoria Gersh beat Jessica Andrew (Doncaster, South Yorkshire UK/Balby Carr) to the far post for the eventual game-winner.

Andrew finished the day with six saves, as did her counterpart Jami Kranich.

The Red Flash opens up a two-game homestand on Friday when it welcomes Towson for a 4 p.m. match.