Balara Scores Four in BIG EAST Opener Loss at Villanova

Saturday, March 21

Villanova, Pa.

12 p.m.

Xavier University

2-9, 0-2

Villanova

7-3, 2-0

Xavier

Villanova

Balara Scores Four in BIG EAST Opener Loss at Villanova

03.21.26 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

The Musketeers dropped a 14-8 contest at Villanova led by Samantha Balara's four goals.

By: Abbey Curtis, Xavier Athletic Communications

VILLANOVA, Pa. - The Xavier lacrosse team dropped their BIG EAST opener on Saturday afternoon against Villanova, 14-8. Samantha Balara scored a career-high four goals for the second time this season to lead the Musketeers.

Five different Musketeers scored in the contest while Villanova had six scorers including two with hat tricks.

XU forced 10 caused turnovers against the Wildcats while only allowing seven themselves. The Musketeer defense ranks in the top-25 for caused turnovers per game.

Xavier falls to 2-8 and 0-1 in the BIG EAST while Villanova improves to 6-3 with a 1-0 BIG EAST record on the opening day of conference play.

how it happened

Xavier had an answer for every Villanova goal as both teams traded scoring opportunities across the first and second quarter. The Wildcats opened the scoring with a goal six minutes into the contest, but Gabby Bouman scored less than a minute later in just her second game back from a season-ending injury last season.

After VU took the lead again, Megan Droney scored with a minute to go in the first quarter to tie it up. The Wildcats had a quick response to take a 3-2 lead heading into the second frame.

Samantha Balara kicked off the second quarter with her first goal of the afternoon, bouncing one into the back of the net to make it a 3-3 game. The Wildcats scored once more, but the Musketeers had a response yet again with Balara scoring on a free position shot.

Villanova took a 5-4 lead with seven minutes to go in the second quarter but was met with Balara's third goal of the game to tie the game at 5-5 as she notched a hat trick in the second quarter alone.

The Wildcats then ended the first half on a 5-0 run to enter the locker room with a 10-5 lead.

VU continued the offensive outburst into the third quarter, adding on two more while blanking the Musketeers for a 12-5 lead ahead of the final quarter.

Villanova's Leslie Iorio scored her fifth goal of the afternoon to kick off the fourth quarter. The Musketeers outscored the Wildcats in the final frame, 3-2, after suffering a scoring drought since the middle of the second quarter.

Genevieve Hathaway scored off an assist from Maya Graham with 12 minutes to go. The Wildcats scored their final goal of the game seven minutes later before Balara found the back of the net for the fourth time. Greer Simonton added one more for the Musketeers, her second-straight game with a goal.

notables

Samantha Balara led the Musketeers with a career-best four goals while also tallying three caused turnovers.
Megan Droney contributed a goal and an assist, tying her own single-season assist record of 12.
Colby Wasson totaled three ground balls and four caused turnovers. The junior ranks in the NCAA top-30 for ground balls and caused turnovers per game.
Greer Simonton scored a goal to go along with two caused turnovers and a ground ball.
Jada Brandon, the BIG EAST leader in save percentage, totaled eight saves.
Gabby Bouman scored her first goal of the season in her second game back from injury that sidelined her in 2025.
Mackenzie Metzger and Mya Miller each totaled two draw controls for a team total of seven against one of the nation's top draw control units.