Sept. 13, 2008
Final Stats
BRONX, N.Y. - Sophomore Sean Mergenthal (Blackwood, N.J.) scored off a rebound in front of the Fordham net to lift Villanova (3-2-0) to a 1-0 victory over the Rams in a men's soccer game played here at Jack Coffey Field on Saturday night.
The contest was tight throughout and Fordham owned an 11-9 advantage in shots on the night. But a Villanova opportunity in the 109th minute caromed out to Mergenthal who deposited the ball into the net for his third goal of the season to give the `Cats the triumph.
"Fordham did a good job of protecting its home field but I thought we fought and battled," stated Carlin. "It wasn't the prettiest effort but it was good to come out of here with a win."
Fordham generated the game's best scoring chances in the game's first 25 minutes, outshooting the Wildcats 4-0. Freshman goalie Chris Bresnahan (McLean, VA./Gonzaga H.S.) made three saves but the best stop was made by midfielder Brent Hooper (Bel Air, Md.) off a set piece. A blast from 20 yards out sailed past Bresnahan but Hooper, stationed on the goal line, was there to prevent the Rams from gaining the early edge.
"We had not played in a week since the Brown tournament and I thought that hurt us early," stated Carlin. "We looked a little sluggish and that's sometimes the price you pay when you have a little time off. But I thought we looked better as the first half went on."
Villanova picked up the offensive tempo midway through the first period, earning more chances through better passing in the midfield. Senior Farris Fakhoury (Parlin, N.J./St. Joseph Regional H.S.) had the Wildcats first shot of the night but the strongest scoring chance came when senior Danny DeMasters (Lititz, Pa.) got in behind the defense and accepted a pass. His shot was deflected by Fordham goalkeeper Ryan Meara.
Each team engineered a great chance in the second half off a header. Villanova sophomore Anthony Griffith (Philadelphia, Pa./Haverford School) nearly gave the `Cats the lead in the 54th minute on a beautiful header off a cross. Meara, however, got a hand on the ball and knocked it away. A few minutes later the Rams nearly netted a goal when John Pardini sent a header just over the cross bar.
Neither team found the back of the net through 90 minutes. Fordham held a 9-6 edge in shots at the end of two periods.
Miles Harrison (Louisville, Ky./Ballard H.S.) had the first good chance of the first overtime session off a corner kick served into the box by Joe Taylor (Southampton, Pa./Archbishop Wood H.S.) . Harrison headed the ball just wide to the right of the net.
Finally, Mergenthal came up with the game winner with 1:27 left on the scoreboard clock.
"Mergy is opportunistic," Carlin says. "He has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. We had a good service into the box and there was a scramble for the ball. It came to Sean and he finished it for us."
With five games in the books, Villanova now shifts its focus to the start of BIG EAST Conference action, which gets underway next weekend at West Virginia and Pittsburgh.
"We've had the start of BIG EAST play circled on our calendar since the end of last season," stated Carlin. "We're ready to get started."
