VILLANOVA, Pa. – The Columbia lacrosse team dropped a non-conference contest to the Villanova Wildcats, 12-8, on Saturday afternoon at Villanova Stadium.

With the loss Columbia drops to 3-4 on the season. Meanwhile, Villanova improves to 6-3 and gets revenge for the matchup on 2024.
 
Columbia started the game out strong, scoring two goals in the first five minutes of action to take a 2-1 lead early in the first quarter. Falcone scored exactly 90 seconds into the contest to give the Lions a 1-0 lead. Villanova responded with a goal of its own before Maddie Brogan scored 4:52 into the game to make it a 2-1 score. After that however, the first quarter was dominated by the Wildcats, with Villanova scoring the last five goals to take a 6-2 lead into the second period.
 
The Wildcats opened up the second quarter with another goal and extended their lead to 7-2. However, that would be their only goal in the second quarter as Columbia started to claw back into the game. Brogan scored her second goal of the contest to make it a 7-3 game. Cecelia Messner scored her first goal of the afternoon a bit over a minute later to make it a 7-4 game. Cordelia Flemming then proceeded to score her first goal of the game with just under four minutes remaining in the half, as the Lions cut the deficit to 7-5 heading into the break.
 
The third quarter saw the Lions strike first, as Ellie Taylor scored just under five minutes into the second half to cut the Villanova lead to 7-6. But that would be the closest the Lions would get for the remainder of the game, as Villanova scored two goals in the last 2:34 of the third quarter to build their lead back up to 9-6 heading into the final frame.
 
In the fourth quarter, Villanova scored another goal early in the period to make it a 10-6 ballgame. Anna Becker responded with her second goal of the game midway through the fourth to get the deficit back down to three. The Wildcats, however, went on to score the next two goals and extended their lead to 12-7. Becker scored her second goal of the quarter with 1:40 remaining to make it 12-8, but it was too little too late as the Wildcats held on for the victory.
 
Becker led the way for the Lions offense with her three points, two of them being goals. Four Lions added two points of their own, with Brogan scoring two goals, and Flemming, Falcone and Taylor each recording one goal and one assist each.
 
On the defensive end, goalie Simone Koryszewski started her second consecutive game and recorded her second straight performance with double-digit saves, following up her 14 save game against Yale with 10 more saves against the Wildcats. Falcone had a team high in ground balls with three, as well as adding two caused turnovers. Maddie Feldner also had two caused turnovers, matching Falcone for the team lead.
 
The Wildcats dominated the draw control circle, leading that category 20-2. Villanova also led in total shots, 39-18, and shots-on-goal, 22-12. But Columbia was able to keep it close by turning it over 16 times compared to Villanova's 21 turnovers, as well as going a near perfect 18-19 on clears compared to Villanova going 16-19 on clear attempts.
 
Columbia is back home for a non-conference game against the ranked UCONN Huskies on Wednesday. Opening draw is set for 3:00 p.m. at Kraft Field.
 
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