The Penn women's lacrosse team's second game against a Philadelphia-area school was much like the first.
The Quakers won both in dominating fashion, beating Temple, 10-6, on March 17, and thrashing Villanova, 16-4, last night at Villanova Stadium.
Penn (8-7, 3-3 Ivy) had goals from nine different players, led by junior Katie Spofford, who logged three. Interestingly enough, Spofford switched from her usual position as attacker to defense last night and still picked up the hat trick.
"It was a different perspective," Spofford said of playing on the back line.
The Quakers started the game red hot. With 10 minutes left in the first half, Penn had already scored four times and Villanova (1-14, 0-5 Patriot) only had one shot. The Red and Blue would go on to score the first 10 goals of the game.
The Wildcats' only goal of the first half came on a free position shot with only a second left before halftime.
When Villanova scored early in the second half, the Quakers responded with four of the next five goals to put the game away.
"It's good to put the ball in the net," Penn head coach Karin Brower said.
In the blowout, Brower was able to allow a few players to see action who are not normally part of the Quakers' rotation. Freshman Catherine Wooters was one such player.
After having appeared in only two games so far this season with no points and one shot, Wooters scored two goals last night for the Red and Blue.
"It was really fun to be out there tonight," she said.
However, the New Canaan, Conn., native placed the team's performance above her own rare starring role.
"I wouldn't have gotten a couple goals if not for my teammates," she said.
Penn freshman Chrissy Muller had two goals and an assist, and junior Sara Shelley and sophomore Blair Soden also added a pair each. Senior co-captain Lindsey Cassidy contributed five helpers to the offensive explosion.
The 16 goals were a season- best for the Quakers. Their previous best was 15 in a win over Delaware on March 3.
The Red and Blue outshot the Wildcats, 37-13, setting two more season marks. Penn's shot total was its second highest of the season -- the Quakers recorded 39 shots against the Blue Hens. The 13 shots allowed was the lowest total of the season, besting the Quakers' previous low of 15 given up to Columbia on April 3.
Last night's victory gave the Red and Blue a great deal of confidence going into their season finale Sunday against Brown.
However, the Quakers know they have to play even better to defeat Brown, which is currently a half game behind Penn for fourth in the Ivy League.
"I think we need to polish up a few things," Spofford said, looking ahead to Sunday's game.
Brower said that the Red and Blue need to capitalize more on their opportunities and play sharper against the Bears.
Wooters, the unexpected star of the night, was brimming with confidence.
"We're definitely looking forward to beating Brown," she said.
PENN 10 6 -- 16
Villanova 1 3 -- 4
First half -- 1, 25:19, Ryan (P); 2, 24:17, Juras (P); 3, 22:25, Ryan 2 (P);
4, 10:01, Muller (P); 5, 7:12, Spofford (P); 6, 7:03, Spofford 2 (P); 7, 6:43, Thomas (P); 8, 5:57, Soden, (P); 9, 3:22, Shelley (P); 10, 2:38, Shelley 2 (P); 11, 0:01, Rocap (V).
Second half -- 12, 26:34, Rocap 2 (V); 13, 20:39, Soden 2 (P); 14, 16:22, Mannix (V); 15, 14:11, McDonnell (P); 16, 11:43, Muller 2 (P); 17, 9:33, Wooters (P); 18, 8:32, Syphard (V); 19, 4:12, Spofford 3 (P); 20, 0:06 Wooters 2 (P).
