VILLANOVA, Pa. – A rare four game homestand comes to a close on Tuesday when Villanova hosts VMI (2-9-3 overall, 0-3 Southern Conference) in a non-league match at the Higgins Soccer Complex. Kickoff is set for just after 3 p.m.
 
Villanova will honor its senior class of 2026 in a ceremony prior to the game. ESPN+ will carry the match live with Mike Shute and Steve Pinone in the broadcast location at midfield.
 
"Senior Day is always important," said head coach Mark Fetrow. "It gives us a chance to thank the guys and their families for all the things they have done for our program."
 
With such a youthful roster – Villanova features 11 newcomers this season, including nine freshmen – the crop of elder statesmen to be honored is small. It includes back Foday Bangura (Greencastle, Pa.), goalkeeper Sebastian Cutler DeJesus (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and midfielder Michael teDuits (Westwood, Mass.).
 
Bangura has appeared in 20 games over his time at Villanova, with 14 starts. This season he has appeared in five games and been in the starting lineup twice.
 
Cutler DeJesus, meanwhile, has started 15 of the 16 games he has appeared in at Villanova after transferring from Charolotte. This season he has four starts to his credit and spots a 1.25 goals against average.
 
teDuits, who transferred from Penn prior to the start of the 2024 campaign, ha started all 13 games for the 2025 Wildcats in the midfield, often using his skill as the service provider on corner kicks. He has three assists to his credit this season and notched his first goal in the Blue and White in 2024 against his former team, Penn.
 
"The seniors have done a great job in helping the younger guys understand our culture and Villanova," said Fetrow.
 
Once the pre-game recognition is complete, the business at hand is trying to finish off this stretch of October home cooking in style. The Wildcats are 3-1-4 at the Higgins Soccer Complex thus far in 2025 with a 1-1 draw with BIG EAST Midwest Division leader Creighton the most recent result.
 
"We defended and battled against Creighton," said Fetrow. "We'll need that same kind of fight against VMI."
 
The Wildcats (4-4-5 overall, 1-1-3 BIG EAST) have been especially stingy defensively this season at home. They have surrendered just seven goals in eight games (0.88 goals against average) with three clean sheets to their credit.

Sophomore goalkeeper Alex Yagudayev (Brooklyn, N.Y.) was honored by the BIG EAST Monday with inclusion on its Honor Roll. Last week, Yagudayev was BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week.
 
This is the first meeting between the two programs. In its most recent action, VMI dropped a 3-0 decision at Furman on Saturday.
 
Villanova resumes BIG EAST play Saturday at Georgetown (6 p.m., ESPN+).