VILLANOVA, Pa. – In his final game at Higgins Soccer Complex, Villanova senior midfielder Zach Zandi sent his team home a winner. Zandi's goal – off assists from Yusuf Cueceoglu and Jacob Anderson – helped lift the Wildcats to a 1-0 victory over Seton Hall Wednesday afternoon in the season finale for both sides.
Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Carson Williams made eight saves on the day in posting the clean sheet. Villanova finishes 7-8-2 overall, 2-6-1 in BIG EAST action. Seton Hall wraps up its campaign at 6-7-2 overall, 2-6-1 BIG EAST.
It was a fitting sendoff for Zandi and fellow seniors Kian Zapata and Enda O'Neill. The trio was honored in a pregame ceremony that included family members.
Neither team scored in the first 45 minutes, though each had its moments of applying pressure on the opposing net.
The best Villanova opportunity of the period came when a familiar tandem nearly connected on a goal. Sophomore Yusuf Cueceoglu sent a ball from the right side that found senior Zach Zandi near the left post. Zandi re-directed the ball towards the Seton Hall net but a Pirates defender stepped forward to deny the Wildcats the goal.
Meanwhile, Williams came up with several shots. The most dangerous was a shot launched from 20 yards that seemed headed for the upper shelf before Williams was able to collect it. Williams was credited with two saves in the period.
Seton Hall held a 7-5 edge in first half shots.
Williams had to be sharp early in the second half when Nico Andersen broke in towards goal on the right side for the Hall. His 22 yard blast was fielded by Williams, who then bobbled it briefly, but got help from his defense as the ball rolled harmlessly over the end line for a goal kick.
As the tempo picked up, the Wildcats were the team to capitalize. The play began with a run down the left side by Theo Quartey who got the ball to junior Jacob Anderson inside the 18 yard box. Anderson sent the ball to Zandi, who fired a shot toward the left post that hit a Seton Hall defender and went into the net. The goal at 54:05 was Zandi's seventh of 2018.
Villanova then held off the Pirates the rest of the way. Seton Hall owned a 24-10 edge in shots but Williams and his defense kept the Pirates from scoring. It raised the Wildcats record at home on the season to 6-2-1 overall.
