Box Score  
VILLANOVA, Pa. – An Evan Vare goal scored in the 71^st minute proved decisive Tuesday as Villanova downed George Washington 1-0 in non-conference match played on a delightful afternoon at the Higgins Soccer Complex.

The clean sheet was Villanova's sixth in eight outings this season and upped their record to 5-2-1 overall, 0-0-1 BIG EAST. The Wildcats are 4-0 on West Campus and have yet to surrender on goal on their home pitch.

"Another clean sheet was the most important thing for us," stated Villanova head coach Tom Carlin. "We got one on the board. Sometimes, you've just got to keep chipping away at it when it doesn't come as early as you want it to.

"I thought the guys did a great job of responding to some adjustments we made at halftime. They just kept attacking and we got one. Evo has been really pushing the last two games. We put him up top and it worked. Great job by him."

The Wildcats had the better of play over the game's first 20 minutes but saw George Washington (2-5-1 overall, 0-1 Atlantic Ten) create some chances in the latter portion of the first half. Villanova held a 6-4 lead in shots in a contest that was scoreless after 45 minutes.

Vare's goal was a breakthrough at 70:29. The play began with junior Richie Schlentz firing a shot that caromed to the senior transfer from Lafayette.

"It was kind of a mishmash," Vare noted. "Richie ended up getting the ball and was just trying to create something for himself. The ball kind of popped out to me at the top of the 18 and I said, 'why not?' and had a crack at it."

His shot was one of five he took on the afternoon and this one eluded Colonials goalkeeper Noah Lubin. The goal was his second of the season.

At the end of the day, the Wildcats owned an 18-9 edge in shots after a strong second half. Goalkeeper Carson Williams was ready when needed, making two saves as he registered yet another shutout on the ledger.

"We were playing Vare as an outside mid but we really like him up top," stated Carlin. "Richie keeps pushing forward and that really created the melee that led to the goal. But Evan's doing a great job. He has a nose for the goal and he's opportunistic."

An important BIG EAST match looms next on Saturday night. The Wildcats will journey to Omaha for a game at Creighton that gets underway at 8 p.m. eastern time. That match will be streamed on the BIG EAST Digital Network.