Johnny Victory's post-game notes: Villanova vs. Hofstra

Nick Testa began the season as Villanova's backup goal keeper and only returned to the starting lineup last week against Yale. Saturday against Hofstra at James Shuart Stadium on Long Island he showed he’s prepared to stay entrenched in goal as he stopped 10 of 12 shots and helped the Wildcats (3-0) to a 7-2 win over the Pride (0-2).

Testa, who gave up 27 goals in the team’s first two games (12.24 goals against average), stopped nearly everything that came his way against the Pride in his best game of the season. With the Hofstra offense struggling to get quality shots, Testa gobbled up what few clean looks Hofstra, who was playing 'Nova for the first time in nine years, was able to get.

AGGRESSIVE CATS: Villanova dominated the groundball battle 34-18 and also ruled the faceoff ‘X’, 10-3. Villanova faceoff man Luke Palmadesso started the pivotal third quarter by winning the faceoff racing down the field and beating Hofstra keeper Jack Concannon.

SLOPPY JOES: The two teams combined for 27 turnovers. Aside from having to overcome a hot Testa, the Hofstra offense hurt itself with mistakes. Nearly every time it had any kind momentum, a turnover typically derailed it. On the day the Pride committed 11 turnovers, including six in the first half. For its part, ‘Nova wasn’t much cleaner committing 16 turnovers but was at least able to rely on offensive spurts early in the first and third halves to pull away. Hofstra’s Kyle Gallagher was also penalized for three FO violations in the first half alone.

WHAT'S UP WITH?: The defensive lapses by Hofstra? First there was the three-minute stretch in the first where the Pride allowed in three easy goals by Danny Seibel, Keegan Khan and Christian Cuccinello. Against Ohio State the week prior they fell behind 5-0 before recovering but ultimately coming up short. Then Concannon, who played well overall (see below) but was under constant pressure and got almost no help from his offense, let in two soft goals to start the second half. In both cases he made the initial stop but the ball trickled past him.

WHAT ABOUT ME?: Hofstra All-American keeper Concannon settled down after giving up the three early quick scores and mostly played well. The senior from Lindenhurst, N.Y. stoned several Villanova shots on the doorstep in the first half and kept his team in the game early. Overall he made 13 saves and, other than the early first and third quarters, was solid.

QUALITY OVER QUANTITY: While Hofstra got plenty of shots (29 overall), it only had 14 shots actually on goal and, as previously mentioned, what few looks it did get, Testa either knocked it away or stopped cleanly. Emblematic of the Pride’s offensive struggles was junior attackman Jimmy Yanes. Coming off a hat trick against Ohio State he had no shots, no goals and 4 turnovers against Villanova, but he was far from the only one to struggle. In the pivotal third quarter Hofstra managed just two shots on goal, although it did get a score on one of those from Alderman.

BANGED UP: Hofstra was without senior attackman and fourth-leading scorer Brendan Kavanagh, who had a goal last week against Ohio State before ultimately being injured.

GEORGE AND WEEZY WOULD BE JEALOUS: After starting the season receiving votes in the Maverik media poll, Villanova moved up to 15th after beating Penn State to open the season and then seventh after beating Yale last week. The win over Hofstra was the first non-OT game of the season for ‘Nova.

3 orange slices: Cuccinello (V) 3g, 0a, Testa (V) 12 saves

2 orange slices: Alderman (H) 2g 0a; Khan (V), 1g, 1a,

1 orange slice: Concannon (H), 13 saves, Seibel (V) 1g, 1a