VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova celebrated its 2021 graduating class of men's soccer athletes in grand style Wednesday afternoon, posting a 4-1 BIG EAST victory over Connecticut in the rain at Higgins Soccer Complex.
 
            Senior Theo Quartey (Accra, Ghana) was one of five Wildcats honored in a ceremony prior to kickoff for his contributions to the program (also saluted were Tommy Nealon, Max Zandi and graduate transfers Elan Koenig and Nico Quashie). Quartey promptly followed with a pair of first half goals, the second of which gave Villanova a lead it would not surrender.
 
            Indeed, the Wildcats (2-8 overall, 2-5 BIG EAST) owned a 22-4 edge in shots on the day and kept building on the early success as the day wore on.
 
            "We've been talking to this group explaining that the fun is in getting there," stated Villanova head coach Tom Carlin. "This group is very young but it's growing and getting better every day. We've been trying to get them to focus on things other than the record or some of the outcome-oriented stuff. That's not easy. It takes a high level of maturity to recognize that.
 
            "I'm just proud of them sticking with it and then to be able to get on the right end of a result."
 
            The Wildcats had the early jump and were rewarded on a nifty passing exchange between freshman forward Akinjide Awujo and Quartey. Awujo found Quartey, who then deposited a shot past Huskies goalkeeper Jahmali Waite at 12:33.
 
            Connecticut leveled matters at one at 13:43 when Giancarlo Vaccaro converted a feed from Jayden Reid at 13:43.
 
            But the Wildcats weren't to be denied on this afternoon. They earned a penalty kick and Quartey neatly dropped a shot into the left side of the net at 34:12 to push Nova back in front.
 
            "It's really great for Theo," said Carlin of the senior's big day. "He's meant so much to our program. When he's on the field, we've just been different over the past four years with our enthusiasm, playing free. He just brings an added element to the group. It's just awesome that he can get two goals on Senior Day."
 
            Villanova extended its lead to 3-1 at 59:32 off a sharp sequence that began with a play by Lyam MacKinnon along the right sideline on a counter attack. His pass hit Anthony Dragisics, who then sent a cross the Awujo knocked past Waite to make it 3-1.
 
            The fourth goal of the match was scored by Viktor Benediktsson with the assist going to Jack Bonas.
 
            This is the first of three straight on home turf for the Wildcats, who last played here at Higgins on March 3 vs. Providence. Villanova hosts another BIG EAST rival, Seton Hall, Saturday at 3 p.m.
 
            "We've been on the road for a while," Carlin said. "It felt different being back at home. The one nice thing on the road, though, is that we've gotten to spend time together, which is something you don't get as much of in these Covid times. I would have to say that the relationships and experiences of the travel has made this group stronger."