University of Connecticut Athletics
No. 16 Huskies Hold Off Villanova, 16-15, on Senior Day
4/16/2022 3:35:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
STORRS, Conn. – Hosting Villanova for Senior Day, the No. 16 UConn women's lacrosse team used a dominant third quarter to down the Wildcats, 16-15, Saturday afternoon at Morrone Stadium.
Up 8-7 at the half, five different Huskies found the back of the net as UConn outscored the Wildcats 5-0 in the frame. Villanova trimmed the gap to one with five minutes to play, but Susan Lafountain delivered the final goal for UConn as it held on for the win.
Senior Sydney Watson led the Huskies with four goals, while fellow senior Lia LaPrise also recorded a hat trick and dished out a pair of assists. Seniors Grace Coon, Stephanie Palmucci and Jordan Coulon also got on the scoreboard as the class of 2022 accounted for 12 goals on the day.
Villanova had the early hot hand as it slipped in the opening goals, though Coon slung one into the top corner in transition to get the Huskies on the board. The Wildcats went on another 2-0 streak before Palmucci and LaPrise connected for back-to-back goals, but Villanova maintained a 5-3 edge at the end of the opening quarter.
Lafountain started off the second quarter with a drive to the cage, and the Palmucci and LaPrise tandem linked again to get the Huskies within one, 6-5. Watson started to heat up with two straight unassisted goals before Coulon slotted her first of the season to give UConn its first lead, 8-7, heading into the break.
Sophomore Madelyn George found LaPrise in transition to start the second half, and Palmucci made a move at the crease to give UConn its first two-goal grip. Watson found sophomore Morgan Carter in front of the net before burying a free position strike, and Coon capped the quarter with her second of the day as UConn outscored Villanova 5-0 in the third quarter.
The Wildcats responded with a 6-2 run, cutting UConn's advantage to 15-14 with just over five minutes to play. Sophomore Susan Lafountain delivered a feed from LaPrise with 2:33 left on the clock, though Villanova answered to make it a one-goal game again. Watson secured the ensuing draw and the Huskies ran out to clock to improve to 7-0 at home this season.
UConn will head to Yale on Wednesday, April 20 for a 4 p.m. matchup.
