Goals scored in the opening minutes of both halves helped carry Providence to a 2-0 victory over Villanova in a BIG EAST match played Saturday evening at Chapey Field.
 
Providence (3-2-1 overall, 2-2-1 BIG EAST) gained the upped hand off the opening kickoff. The Friars attacked out wide on the right side and Kevin Vang sent a ball inside the 18-yard box that Brendan McSorley redirected towards the left corner of the net via a scissor kick. The goal was scored after just 22 seconds had come off the game clock.
 
"It's not easy when you go on the road and give up a goal within 25 seconds," stated Villanova head coach Tom Carlin. "It was an unbelievable finish by McSorley but we had two chances to clear it before then.
 
The Wildcats (1-7 overall, 1-5 BIG EAST) were able to build a bit of forward pressure at different junctures of the opening half, with sophomore Lyam MacKinnon and freshman Luke Pompliano both generating quality opportunities that were thwarted by the Friars.
 
"It was back and forth," said Carlin, "we had some chances, they had some chances."
 
Providence took a 1-0 lead into halftime.
 
Another goal scored in the opening minutes of the second half, gave the Friars a two-goal cushion. This one again was scored by McSorley off a feed from Adam Riis at 47:11.
 
"It was the same kind of thing," said Carlin. "I thought we'd be ready to make a push and then we give one up in the first couple of minutes in the second half."
 
The Wildcats would go on to produce eight shots in the second half and force Friars goalkeeper Rimi Olatunji to make four saves. Carson Williams had four saves for Villanova.
 
It was a painful lesson for a young Wildcats side populated largely by sophomores and freshmen at this point.
 
"We have a lot of young guys out there," stated Carlin. "This is part of the learning curve. It's a tough lesson to learn about how ready you have to be right from the opening whistle in a Big East game."
 
Villanova will be idle next Saturday afternoon when it hosts St. John's in a BIG EAST matchup at the Higgins Soccer Complex (3:30 p.m.).