The IceCats split this weekend with two league games, one at home against Penn State Berks and the other away at the United States Naval Academy.

Friday night was a tight game against Berks. The first period went back and forth with goal scoring. Timothy Arena scored the first goal for Villanova just 50 seconds into the game. Berks responded with a goal a couple minutes later. With about 3 minutes left in the period, Jack Merecki scored a goal for Villanova. Berks was able to bury a second goal with just about a minute left in the period.

Villanova’s George Clark scored a goal to begin the second period. Berks scored the next two goals of the game. Timothy Arena got the next goal for Villanova, which was the last goal of the second period.

Berks scored about 7 minutes into the third, taking the lead. Villanova rallied and locked in the last 2 goals of the game, thanks to Timothy Arena and Brett Mackell. Arena earned himself a hat trick! The final score of the game was a 6-5 win for Villanova.

The shots on goal were almost even, with Berks putting up 43 shots and Villanova 42. Ajay Fernandez goaltended the game.

On Saturday night, the IceCats roadtripped down to Maryland to play Navy in another tight league game.

The first period saw a lot of action! Navy started the scoring just a couple minutes in, taking the initial lead. Villanova quickly tied the game 1-1, thanks to a goal by Timothy Arena. Navy scored the next 3 goals of the game. Before the period was over, Villanova scored 2 more. George Clark and Joe Desimone each buried one.

During the second period, Villanova took the lead, scoring the only two goals of the period. Timothy Arena and George Clark both scored a second goal!

Navy pulled ahead in the third period by scoring the last two goals of the game. The final score was a 6-5 loss for Villanova. Shots on goal were 42 for Villanova and 57 for Navy. John Persichilli was Villanova’s goalie for the game.

Come out to support the IceCats next weekend at they play two home games against Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Saturday’s game will be at at 7:40 p.m. and Sunday at 1:10 p.m. Go IceCats!

By Amanda Trusky