VILLANOVA, Pa. – Life in a rugged soccer conference such as the BIG EAST offers no soft landings. Villanova (8-4 overall, 4-2 BIG EAST) will be reminded of that Saturday when it visits No. 1 Georgetown (10-1 overall, 4-1 BIG EAST) Saturday at Shaw Field.
 
Due to a forecast of thunderstorms Saturday afternoon, kickoff has been moved up from 1 p.m. to noon. The game will be live streamed via the BIG EAST Digital Network presented by Flo Sports.
 
Both teams absorbed setbacks on Wednesday.
 
The Wildcats battled back to tie Creighton at two after falling behind early in the second half to the Bluejays. But Creighton notched two more goals in the final 13 minutes to post a 4-2 win at the Higgins Soccer Complex.
 
Georgetown, meanwhile, suffered its first loss of the fall, dropping a 3-0 decision at Providence. With the victory the Friars moved atop the BIG EAST Conference standings with a 4-0-2 mark for 14 points. The Wildcats and Friars are presently tied for second place with 12 points.
 
"It was important that we got off to a good start (4-0) because the BIG EAST is such a challenge," says Villanova head coach Tom Carlin. "We've been refocusing our energy for Georgetown and working on recovery so that we are ready for Saturday."
 
The NCAA released its first men's soccer RPI rankings earlier this week and the BIG EAST boasted eight teams in the top 60. Georgetown is listed at No. 2 while Villanova checked in at No. 23.
 
The Wildcats rank third in the BIG EAST in goals against average in league games (0.81) and hope to return to their stingy defensive ways. After surrendering just on goal – on a penalty kick – in their first five conference contests, Creighton registered four goals in 40 minutes of second half action Wednesday.
 
"We have some things to work on," states Carlin.
 
Junior Lyam MacKinnon scored his team-leading fifth goal for Villanova Wednesday. His 12 points also top the Wildcats' scoring chart.
 
The game Saturday is Villanova's seventh of ten in BIG EAST regular season action. After that, the Wildcats have just three more regular season conference affairs on tap – vs. DePaul next Wednesday at the Higgins Soccer Complex, at Providence (Oct. 30) and a home date with Seton Hall on Nov. 3 to close out the regular season. A non-league game at Northwestern on Oct. 24 also remains on the slate.