Final Stats

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. ââ'¬" On a wet night away from home, Villanova turned to a pair of seniors, Sean Sheridan and Colton Bryant, to help it earn a 2-0 Philly Soccer Six victory over La Salle at McCarthy Stadium Wednesday.

The Wildcats improved to 5-3-0 overall while the Explorers ââ'¬" who suffered their first home loss of 2015 ââ'¬" dropped to 4-5-1 overall.

"We told the guys that in order for us to play, we had to win some physical battles," stated Villanova head coach Tom Carlin. "We didn't earn a lot of moments, especially in the first half. I didn't think we were as organized and disciplined in winning first and seconds. We didn't win enough battles to gain some possessions.

"Once we started to do that, the game changed a little bit. Anytime you play a Soccer Six game on a field like this that is narrow, it is going to be a battle. You have to accept that and this team did that in the second half."

The two teams were scoreless at intermission but La Salle had more control of the tempo in the first 45 minutes. The artificial surface was especially slick on a night when a steady rain fell through the first period.

The second half was another matter, however, and the Wildcats got the all-important first score at 65:31 off a free kick. Sheridan curled a ball over the Explorers' wall and into the right side of the net ââ'¬" it was his third goal of 2015.

"You just need that first one," stated Carlin.

The Wildcats created some breathing room for themselves in the 76th minute when Sheridan lofted a corner kick from the right side into the box, where Bryant, in his second game back after missing several weeks due to injury, sent a header into the middle part of the net to make it 2-0.

"You take them however you can get them," said Carlin. "That first one was a sigh of relief and Sean has been doing that for us for four years now. When we get close, everyone is sort of anxiously awaiting to see what Sean can do. He did it for us out there."

Bryant also made a key contribution as did another senior back, Chris Hill, for a Wildcats' unit that played without injured starters Max Kroschwitz and Zach Zandi.

"That's what it takes," noted Carlin. "We have guys with experience and that sense of urgency. They got us going in the right direction and allowed us to create some momentum going into Marquette."

Will Steiner made four saves for Villanova in posting the shutout.

The Wildcats return home to host the Golden Eagles (3-3-2 overall, 0-0-1 BIG EAST) in a conference match on Saturday. For now, though, they get to enjoy a hard-earned win in less than ideal conditions. Carlin pointed to several unheralded contributors who helped keep the Wildcats on track in this match.

"We wanted to give (Eric) McKenna time back there and he did a great job," stated Carlin. "Randy (Falk) was a little under the weather so we decided to use him up front. We know his biggest intangible is his work ethic so we figured, 'let's put him up top.' He was aggressive and impacted the game on both ends."

Kickoff Saturday is set for 1 p.m. at the Higgins Soccer Complex.