Sept. 20, 1999

Villanova, Pa. --- The Villanova University men's soccer team took on the Providence Friars today in Big East action, losing to the visitors 4-1. With the conference loss, the Wildcats fall to 1-5 overall and 0-3 in league play.

Much like their game yesterday, the Wildcats controlled the tempo in the first half and were generally on the offensive, and just as it happened the day before, Villanova's opposition was still somehow able to score first. Just 2:52 into the game, Providence got on the board. The Friars' Andrew Bussman dribbled towards the right side of the goal and kicked it across the box. The Villanova defender attempted to kick away the threat, but instead inadvertantly scored on his own goal. Although Villanova out-shot Providence 9-2 in the first half, the 'Cats found themselves down 1-0 at intermission.

Down 2-0 in the second stanza, Villanova's junior defender Jim Curtin (Oreland, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) took to the offensive side of the ball and smoked a shot past the Providence goalkeeper off of a feed from freshman Felipe Freire (Rio de Janeiro, Brasil). It was Freire's first career point and for Curtin, a second team all-Big East performer in 1998, the score was the first of his superb career. Two second half goals by Providence's Keith Dorsey allowed the visitors to increase their lead and the contest ended 4-1. Senior goalkeeper Matt Malek (Dearborn Heights, Mich./Detroit Jesuit) took the loss for the 'Cats.

The Wildcats' next game will be at Temple University on Wednesday, September 22, at 3:30 p.m.