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Villanova, PA – In their first game in 350 days, the Wagner College women's lacrosse team dropped a heartbreaker in their 2021 season opener, falling 19-18 in overtime to the Villanova Wildcats Tuesday afternoon from Villanova Stadium.
 
The Seahawks trailed by two in the final 30 seconds, but scored twice in a span of 10 seconds, sending the game to the extra session.
 
Senior Erin Kerstetter recorded game highs of six goals and nine draw controls, classmate Victoria Tucci added four goals, and sophomore Megan Greco netted a hat trick; the goal-scoring tallies marked career highs for all three.
 
Junior Kasey Dorney scored twice, caused a turnover and added three draw controls; senior Madeline Seims added two goals.
 
On the back-line, junior Aileen Hannan posted game highs of four caused turnovers and five ground balls, senior Noelle Harvey grabbed two draw controls, graduate student Giaci Vitolo added a ground ball and two draw controls, and classmate Lindsay Haas caused a turnover and picked up a ground ball.
 
Libby McKenna had a game-high six goals for the Wildcats, Haley Driscoll netted five, and Katie Comerford registered a hat trick.
 
Tucci got the Seahawks on the board after a 2-0 hole in the opening 90 seconds. Seims' 85^th career goal kick-started a 4-0 run capped by Kerstetter's first two of the day, pushing Wagner out in front, 5-3, but Villanova answered with two straight to tie the game.
 
The teams traded goals over the next 12+ minutes, with Dorney, Greco, Kerstetter, and Tucci each finding the back of the net for the Green and White. Tucci completed her hat trick with 1:06 left in the half, giving Wagner the lead at the break.
 
The goal-trading continued into the second half, as neither side was able to take a lead of more than a goal until McKenna's fourth goal put Villanova up 14-12 with 14:45 to play. Seims and Kerstetter responded with scores just 44 seconds apart, knotting things up once again. Tucci and Kerstetter scored their 4^th and 6^th goals, tying the game at 15 and 16, respectively, but Villanova again answered with two of their own, then held 16-14 lead into the final seconds.
 
With 22 seconds left in regulation, Dorney rocketed one past Villanova's Mary Alice Collins, halving Wagner's deficit. After gathering the ensuing draw control, Dorney raced down the field and hit an open Greco who converted right in front of the net; in all, there were 12 ties in regulation, seven in the second half. With time running out in the first overtime, McKenna buried one off a bounce shot for the win.
 
Beyond the Numbers:

• With her first draw control of the day, Kerstetter became the first player in program history with 200.
• Kerstetter scored multiple points for the 16^th straight game, dating back to the 2019 season.
• Hannan caused multiple turnovers for the fifth straight game, dating back to last season.

Wagner's season-opening three-game road trip continues next Tuesday, March 2 at 12 PM against the Hofstra University Pride from James M. Shuart Stadium.
 
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