VILLANOVA, Pa. – No. 12 Xavier scored the go-ahead goal in the 89^th minute Saturday to take a 2-1 victory over Villanova (5-4-2 overall, 2-2-1 BIG EAST) in tightly contested match played on a crisp, clear fall afternoon at the Higgins Soccer Complex. The Musketeers extended their season-opening unbeaten streak to 12 games (8-0-4 overall, 2-0-3 BIG EAST).
 
"Xavier's a good team," stated Villanova head coach Tom Carlin. "At certain moments of the game they were pretty good on the ball. They made us move around a lot and made us chase them.
 
"But I also thought we played well. We got a first half goal and I felt like we had enough to withstand what they were bringing at us. There were two bang-bang plays in the second half that we were on the wrong side of. It's fundamental stuff we didn't do well on the day. That's unlike us. It's unfortunate but we just have to move on."
 
Neither team gained much of an advantage over the first 30 minutes but a nifty individual effort from senior Lyam MacKinnon altered the match's complexion in the 35^th minute. Sophomore Balthi Saunders fed a ball out wide to MacKinnon and the senior from Switzerland took it from there. MacKinnon used a nifty dribbled move and then fired a shot into the upper right corner at 34:17 to put the 'Cats on top.
 
"I have been challenging Lyam all week to get some shots off," Carlin stated. "That was a great individual play."
 
The goal was a team high fifth of the season for MacKinnon.
 
At the other end, goalkeeper Kent Dickey was there each time the Musketeers applied pressure. The senior would finish the sun-splashed afternoon with seven saves for the 'Cats. Villanova took its 1-0 lead into the halftime break.
 
In the first half, the Wildcats had a gusting 15-miles per hour wind mostly at their backs as they attacked the east end of the Higgins Soccer Complex. That advantage flipped to the Musketeers over the final 45 minutes and they were able to capitalize.
 
Xavier knotted the match at 61:34. Dominik Kurija dribbled on the left side towards the end line and fired a cross through the 18-yard box that found Alejandro Steinwascher, who deposited the ball into the net to level things at one.
 
With the clock winding down it appeared this battle would end in a draw. But Kurija again sent a cross that found a teammate, this time Nicolas Hald-Willumsen near the top of the 18-yard box. Hald-Willumsen's shot found the back of the net with just 63 seconds left on the clock.
 
Following the game, the Wildcats hosted a meet and greet with fans in attendance to help raise awareness for the National Organization for Rare Disorders. Carlin and his daughter Tira are on a mission to help build a more equitable future for over 25 million Americans living with a rare disease. Tira Carlin served as an honorary captain for the Wildcats in this contest.
 
"We're thankful for all the support and donations we received," said Carlin. "We had a donation goal in mind and beat that in the first few days. It was a chance for us to help spread awareness through our platform of families with children battling rare diseases and what they go through."
 
Villanova returns to action Wednesday at 7 p.m. when it will be in Indianapolis to meet Butler (BIG EAST Digital Network).