Aug. 31, 2011
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VILLANOVA, Pa. - The Villanova Wildcats (2-0-0 overall, 0-0 BIG EAST) got a goal from freshman Aaron Dennis in the 31st minute and it held up for the rest of the day in a 1-0 victory over Drexel (0-1-0 overall, 0-0-0 CAA) in a match played this afternoon at the VU Soccer Complex.
"I thought our back line and goalkeeper really played as one in the second half," stated Villanova head coach Tom Carlin. "We were a little banged up and tired but we were able to neutralize them for the most part."
Neither team created a lot of scoring opportunities in the game's first 25 minutes. But that changed when junior Ryan Whalen won a ball on the sideline and got it to freshman Oscar Umar. Umar patiently dribbled into the corner, worked around a defender and found a crease to send the ball across the box.
His roommate Dennis was waiting on the left side of the box. He knocked the cross into the left side of the net, past the outstretched arms of Pentti Pussinen at 30:31. Dennis has scored all three goals in the Wildcats first two games and two have come off feeds from Umar.
"We talk about the game ahead when we are in our room," stated Umar. "I just tried to get him a perfect ball."
"Oscar is just so calm and composed when defenders are on him," noted Carlin. "He keeps us moving and that ball he fed to Aaron was in a perfect spot. I think he's really going to be a tremendous player for us and he's only a freshman."
The score was 1-0 at halftime and the Dragons did all they could to push forward in the second half. There weren't a ton of chances for Drexel, though, and most of those came off set pieces.
But there was one moment that could have altered the outcome. In the 72nd minute, Matheus Goncalves accepted a nifty feed from Ken Tribbett and buried the ball into the back of the net, behind Wildcats keeper John Fogarty. However, the flag was up for offsides and the goal was disallowed.
Villanova had several excellent chances to add an insurance goal in the final 15 minutes. Junior Kyle McCarthy and Chris Christian both sent strong shots at Pussinen but were denied on fine saves by the Dragons keeper.
The `Cats owned a 14-11 edge in shots on this beautiful late summer afternoon. Fogarty picked up his second consecutive shutout and was credited with a pair of saves.
Next up for Villanova is a Sunday matinee on its home turf against Patriot League power Colgate. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.
