VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova returns to its home pitch Saturday as it hosts Xavier in a BIG EAST Conference clash. The Wildcats will also honor those athletes who came before them on their annual "Alumni Day."
 
The BIG EAST Digital Network on Flo Sports will live stream the match from the Higgins Soccer Complex at 1 p.m.
 
"We're fighting for our postseason lives," states Villanova head coach Tom Carlin.
 
The Wildcats are 1-7-4 overall, 1-4-1 BIG EAST after dropping a 2-0 decision at Georgetown on Wednesday.
 
"To this point this season has not gone the way we would have hoped," Carlin said. "I have been here 16 years and have never experienced a season like this. It's not easy. We're all competitors.
 
"But what I have told our guys is that it is an honor and privilege to represent this University and this program. Regardless of the record, we're blessed. We will keep battling every day to get better and always want to do things in a classy way. We'll have our alums with us Saturday and that's always a special day."
 
With two BIG EAST games remaining – Villanova visits DePaul on Oct. 28 – the Wildcats still have hopes of securing one of the berths for the league's eight-team postseason tournament.
 
"The reality is that we probably need to win and get some help," Carlin said.
 
Xavier leads the BIG EAST's West Division (6-3-4 overall, 3-1-2 BIG EAST) and hopes to enhance its position for the postseason.
 
The Wildcats, dogged by injuries in 2023, hope to rebound Saturday. They will be aided in that quest by the newest addition to the coaching staff, Sheanon Williams, recently officially named to fill the s on the staff formerly occupied by Mark Fetrow, who accepted the head coaching position at Drexel on the eve of the regular season.
 
Williams played collegiately at North Carolina, saw time the US national team, and put together a lengthy Major League Soccer career, playing for the Philadelphia Union from 2010-15.
 
"Being able to bring in a guy that's been with the US national team, had a long career in MLS and played college soccer as well is awesome for our program," stated Carlin. "There are only so many guys left that go from college to that path. Being able to have someone with that kind of resume is unbelievable for us.
 
"Sheanon is a great coach. He's been coaching at the club level locally and lives locally. So the opportunity for our back line and defenders to learn from a guy that's so passionate and enthusiastic about the game is huge. It fills a void. When we lost Coach Fetrow, that's the area that was kind of his baby. While we miss him, we're fortunate to be able to bring in a guy of Sheanon's calibre."