Greving Nets Game-Winner to Beat Villanova

VILLANOVA, Pa. - The Marquette women's lacrosse team bounced back with an 8-7 win over Villanova on Sunday afternoon in Pennsylvania.

Madison Kane and Hannah Greving scored two goals apiece to pace the Golden Eagles (4-6, 1-3 BIG EAST) in their first conference victory of the season. Greving scored the game-winning goal with 4:54 to play on a pass from Leigh Steiner and the MU defense did the rest, holding VU scoreless for the final seven minutes of regulation.

Lindsey Hill had one goal and two assists while Shea Garcia, Megan Menzuber and Caroline Steller scored one goal each.

MU controlled play for much of the first half, outshooting Villanova (3-7, 1-3 BIG EAST) 18-9 and holding a 6-1 edge in draw controls, but the game was tied 3-3 at halftime. The biggest reason for the low-scoring half was VU goalie Alexa Moro, who saved seven shots and held a .700 save percentage in the first 30 minutes. Garcia, Kane and Menuzber scored the three first half goals while Lindsey Hill dished out two assists. MU goalie Sophia Leva came up big in the first half as well, saving four shots.

The Wildcats scored the first goal of the second half to take their first lead of the day, but the Golden Eagles quickly responded with three straight goals to take a 6-4 lead. Leading scorer Caroline Steller scored her first goal of the day and 27th of the year from the free position to tie the game at four. MU then scored two goals in the next three minutes on a Lindsey Hill top-shelf shot from the point and a Hannah Greving shot after a cut behind the defense for a left-handed finish.

VU scored three of the next four goals to tie the game once more at seven. Less than three minutes after the Wildcats tied the game, Greving gave MU the lead for the final time. Leva also came up big late, saving a shot from VU's McKenna with 2:47 to play that would have tied the game. She saved eight shots on the day and posted a .533 save percentage.

Libby McKenna led Villanova with three goals and one assist while Katie Comerford scored twice and Brittany Bruno had one.

MU outshot VU 30-18 and held a 12-5 edge in draw controls. Emily Cooper registered a game-high six DC's.

UP NEXT:
Marquette will be back in action on Friday, April 9 and Sunday, April 11 at Georgetown.

Keep up with the Marquette women's lacrosse program all season long through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteWLax) and Instagram (@MarquetteWLax) and `liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteWLax).