DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Villanova
Ben's Hat-Trick Propels DePaul to 6-3 win against Villanova
10/22/2017 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S SOCCER
Box Score
VILLANOVA, Pa. - The DePaul women's soccer team extended its undefeated streak to four matches on Sunday afternoon as the Blue Demons scored a season-high, single-match best six goals against Villanova in their 6-3 road victory.
DePaul (6-7-4, 2-2-4 BIG EAST) netted an early goal in the seventh minute for the 1-0 lead. On a corner by junior Franny Cerny, senior Lucy Edwards headed the ball to the right side of the box where a touch by Elizabeth Parrilli was redirected to left side of the six. There, Madeline Frick headed an attempt towards the net that was blocked by the Wildcat goalkeeper, falling to the right side of the frame. Freshman Morgan Turner found the loose ball and tapped her third goal of the season into the right side of the net.
On a free kick from 40 yards out, senior Elizabeth Endy connected with classmate Alexa Ben who headed DePaul's second goal of the match into the upper right-hand corner for the 2-0 lead. Ben's strike was her fifth of the season and 25th of her career.
Moments later, Cerny netted her BIG EAST leading ninth goal on a breakaway up the middle of the pitch. Turner, who netted DePaul's first goal of the match, intercepted a touch and found Cerny charging down the field. Cerny surged ahead for 35 yards out, breaking past three Wildcat defenders, and tapped DePaul's third goal of the match into net for the 3-0 advantage.
Villanova (6-11, 2-6 BIG EAST) would briefly make the match a two-goal affair as Emily Kuefler netted a shot from just outside the 18 to make it 3-1 still in favor of the Blue Demons.
In the 70th minute, a Villanova yellow card awarded in the box set up a penalty kick for Ben who tapped in her second goal of the match, collecting her sixth of the season and 26th in a DePaul jersey.
The Wildcats scratched their way to within one, 4-3, as Kristin Barbour and Kuefler netted back-to-back strike over the next three minutes of play.
Once again, DePaul responded in the 80th minute when Ben tapped in a cross from Frick for her third goal of the match, notching her first hat-trick of the 2017 season. The Blue Demons would add another insurance goal in the 88th on Turner's second score of the match to seal a 6-3 victory over their BIG EAST rival.
With today's win, DePaul has defeated Villanova in seven consecutive meetings.
The Blue Demons return to Wish Field on Thursday, Oct. 26 as DePaul hosts St. John's in its regular season finale at 3 p.m. Thursday's match will play host to the Blue Demons' annual Pink Out match. Fans are encouraged to wear pink in honor of loved ones who are or have been affected by cancer.
Match Notes
*Through 17 matches, DePaul has outscored its opponents 25-21.
*Head coach Erin Chastain is one win shy of reaching the 100 career wins mark.
*The all-time series between DePaul and Villanova is tied 7-7-1.
*Alexa Ben's hat-trick gives her 27 career goals
