Staten Island, NY - The Wagner field hockey team fought valiantly but dropped its non-conference tilt, 3-2, to the Villanova Wildcats on Sunday afternoon at the Wagner College Field Hockey Complex. 

The visitors scored twice within three minutes in the first quarter. Sabine De Ruijter put the Wildcats on the board when she fired a shot past Wagner senior goalkeeper, Daisy Ruhle. 

Katie Capalbo added a goal with a minute left in the first after she finished a cross from Meghan Mitchell. 

Wagner came out in the second half more aggressive. Senior Agustina Deharbe made a long run and sent a crisp pass that found the stick of Natalie Rocuskie, who then crossed to the other side of the field to a waiting Kira Mordvinov as she buried her second goal of the season, cutting the visitors' lead in half, 2-1. 

For Mordvinov, it was her seventh career goal. 

Wagner carried the momentum over to the third final quarter, outshooting the Wildcats, 13-1, while accumulating 14 corners. 

A string of five straight corners by Emma Brushingham wasn't enough to tame the Wildcats' offense, as Mitchell was able to bury a shot past sophomore goalkeeper, Erin Franklin. 

The Green & White battled back and cut into the lead. Emma Brushingham inserted a corner that found freshman Emma Lofstedt, who settled the ball to senior Julia Cruces Pastorino, as she ripped a shot that found the back of the net, trimming the Villanova lead to 3-2. 

For Cruces Pastorino, it was her eighth goal of the season. Villanova ran out the final four minutes to leave Grymes Hill with the one-goal victory. 

The Seahawks outshot the Wildcats, 18-10, and notched 16 corners to Nova's two. The 16 corners this afternoon is a new program and season-high. 

Cruces Pastorino led the team with eight shots (three on goal) while Ruhle stopped two shots in defeat. 

Wagner will be back in action on Friday, October 22, when they will resume Northeast Conference (NEC) play against Rider. 

Friday will be the Seahawks' THINK PINK game, as the action from the Wagner College Field Hockey Complex is slated for 3:00 p.m.