WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Villanova defeated Saint Francis 2-1 in non-conference field hockey action on Sunday.
>> Grace Reed (Nanticoke, Pa.) notched her first collegiate goal off an Eva Valentini (Junin, Argentina) assist at the 39-minute mark.
>> Amber Bryan (Thorndale, Pa.) made two saves in the first half and Mia DiGenova turned away three shots in the final 30 minutes.

TURNING POINTS
Villanova scored the first two goals of the game and had to stave off a Red Flash comeback attempt in the second half.
 
After Reed cut the score to one score, Saint Francis had eight shots with three shots saved and three shots blocked by the Wildcats defense.
 
Ella Maillie (Reading, Pa.) (44:16), Julia Breneman (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) (45:42) and Consu de Castro (Chascomús, Argentina) all had shots turned away by the Villanova cage minder with Castro's attempt with 47 seconds left being the final scoring chance for the Red Flash.
 
Valentini (51:51) and Madison Waldspurger (Hatfield, Pa.) (51:59 and 56:57) had shots halted by the defense.

FLASH MOMENTS
Reed scored the lone goal of the afternoon off a pass from Valentini at the 39-minute mark. It was the freshman's first collegiate goal of her career on her first career shot.

FLASH NUGGETS
With her assist, Valentini moved closer to fifth place for career points with 58 points. The junior now has 22 goals and 14 assists for 58 points. She has two goals and two assists for six points in 2023.
 
DiGenova, who made her collegiate debut on Friday with eight saves, now has 11 stops in the two games and allowed just one goal in 60 minutes of work.

UP NEXT
Saint Francis returns to action on Sunday, September 24 at Drexel to wrap up a three-game road trip. Game time is 12 p.m. It will also be the final tuneup before the squad begins Northeast Conference play.