VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova will be back on its home pitch Saturday, hosting a pivotal BIG EAST Conference fixture against longtime rival St. John's at 1 p.m. Matt Janus will have the call on the BIG EAST Digital Network on Flo Sports.
 
Villanova will honor NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders) at halftime.
 
Both the Wildcats (1-5-4 overall, 1-2-1 BIG EAST) and Red Storm (6-3-3 overall, 1-1-2 BIG EAST) could use the three points in their quest to secure a berth in the eight-team postseason conference tournament next month.
 
St. John's played Providence to a 0-0 draw in its most recent outing, last Saturday evening at Belson Stadium in Queens.
 
Villanova, meanwhile, stepped out of conference on Tuesday night for a visit to Maryland. The Terrapins posted a 6-4 victory, outscoring the Wildcats 3-1 in the final 45 minutes after the two teams were deadlocked at intermission.
 
The most encouraging news for the Wildcats is that their offense has flourished of late. The four goals scored in College Park matched the team's single-game high – Villanova also picked up four goals in a 4-3 win at Providence last month - and came on the heels of a 3-3 draw last Saturday in a BIG EAST clash with Seton Hall.
 
Junior forward Vincent Petrera has scored four goals in the 'Cats last four contests, including a pair in the second half last weekend against the Pirates. On the season he now has five goals to go with three assists for 13 points.
 
Senior forward Branden Johns broke through with two goals in a return to his native Maryland on Tuesday night. His speed creates pressure on opposing defenses.
 
"BJ gave us a great lift the other night," stated Villanova head coach Tom Carlin.
 
Junior Balthi Saunders (Brooklyn, N.Y.) is second on the Nova roster with three goals and a team high four assists. He has been a steady offensive presence.
 
While the offense has been operating at a high level, the customarily stingy Wildcats' defense hasn't been as efficient of late. The absence of senior center back Jack Bonas is a significant factor in the final third over the past 135 minutes of soccer. Bonas left the Seton Hall game early in the second half and sat out against the Terrapins.
 
"Jack is just such a big part of what we do," notes Carlin. "He's played in every kind of situation and is such a stabilizing presence for us. When you take him out of the lineup, it creates a domino effect when we have to move guys around."
 
The focus in training since the return from Maryland has been squarely focused on the defensive third.
 
"We've watched the film and we'll be ready," Carlin stated. "We've got the depth to make the adjustments we need to against a good St. John's team."