VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova kicks off the October portion of its 2024 regular season schedule Friday afternoon at the Higgins Soccer Complex when it hosts BIG EAST rival Connecticut (6-0-3 overall, 1-0-1 BIG EAST) Friday at 3 p.m. The match will be live streamed on the BIG EAST Digital Network.
The Wildcats have dealt with a series of injuries thus far in 2024, that has kept such projected lineup linchpins Luke Martelli, Balthi Saunders and Cole Knapp off the pitch. Villanova has nonetheless made strides of late, though it has yet to show in the results column (0-5-4 overall, 0-2-0 BIG EAST).
The Wildcats held the lead for a good chunk of the game last time out Saturday night at St. John's. But two goals surrendered in a span of less than five minutes in the second half proved too much to overcome in a 2-1 loss at the hands of the Red Storm.
"We did some good things," noted head coach Mark Fetrow, "but we didn't take care of some details that ended up costing us. It doesn't get any easier from here."
Indeed, UConn has let to absorb a loss in its nine games. The Huskies have held foes to just six goals in 2700 minutes of soccer, an 0.67 Goals Against Average, that puts them in the Top nationally in that category. They played Seton Hall to a 0-0 draw last Saturday after picking up a 3-2 win at DePaul in the BIG EAST opener on Sept. 20.
Last season, UConn prevailed 1-0 in Storrs during a torrential downpour.
"We've had a good week of training," Fetrow stated. "UConn is having a great season. We have to concentrate on what we're doing and executing our game plan. That's what we need to do to compete for Big East wins."
UConn is tied with Providence (four points each) atop the BIG EAST's East Division.
The Wildcats believe a better month of results is within their grasp. This is the first of five October matches on campus – Friday is a Student Lottery Bonus game as well as Faculty Appreciation Day – and the best work Villanova has done this season has been on its West Campus.
"It's always good to be home," Fetrow states.
Following this contest, the Wildcats will prepare for a non-conference match Tuesday against Columbia (3 p.m./Flo Sports).
