VILLANOVA, Pa. – It's been a quiet week for the Villanova Wildcats but an important one as they look to get on track Saturday night at FDU. Kickoff is set for just after 7 p.m. in Teaneck, N.J.
The Wildcats were last in action on Saturday, getting a second half goal from senior Vincent Petrera to earn a 1-1 draw with Lafayette. With no midweek game on tap, the Wildcats were able to recalibrate a bit in the hopes of building upon a strong second half against the Leopards at the Higgins Soccer Complex.
"We've got to keep learning from what has happened in the first five games," stated Villanova head coach Mark Fetrow. "There have been a lot of conversations, and we've had stretches, such as the second half against Lafayette, where we have done a good job of carrying out our game plan. But there have also been times when we have committed too many turnovers and in this possession style, that is hard to overcome."
In Fetrow's first season as head coach, the Wildcats (0-3-2 overall) are relying on a relatively inexperienced roster. Upperclassmen who saw limited action earlier in their careers are now rotation regulars. Junior back Foday Bangura and senior midfielder Jordan Canica logged 90 and 87 minutes respectively in Saturday's match. Prior to this season Bangura had seen action in just three career games while Canica appeared in 13, all as a reserve.
Sophomores Josh Oladele, Diego Valles and Mikhail Zaretser all have started multiple times and were in the starting 11 on Saturday. That group started a combined five times as freshman a season ago (all by Zaretser). Classmate Luke Martelli – voted a team captain in the preseason – has yet to see action due to injury.
In goal the Wildcats are also breaking in a new tandem in transfer Sebastian Cutler DeJesus and freshman Alex Yagudayev.
Thus far, it's been a process that the Wildcats hope will soon offer better results.
"We've shown fight and belief, especially when we've conceded early goals," Fetrow noted. "But it hasn't been good enough. We're here to win games and to compete in the Big East. We're still working towards being a team that does that consistently."
Saturday night's match offers an opportunity to take a step forward with the start of BIG EAST play fast approaching. Marquette will help the 'Cats kick off the conference schedule on Friday, Sept. 20 at 4 p.m. at the Higgins Soccer Complex.
FDU enters this match with a 3-1-2 record, including a perfect 2-0 on its home pitch. The Knights scored seven goals in those two home appearances to open the regular season.
