Nov. 3, 2009
VILLANOVA, Pa - The Villanova Wildcats (9-7-2 overall, 5-5-1 BIG EAST) host the Providence College Friars (8-6-3 overall, 5-4-2 BIG EAST) in the opening game of the 2009 BIG EAST Tournament on Wednesday at the West Campus Soccer Complex (1:00 p.m./Nova Nation All-Access).
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
The winner of Wednesday's match advance to the tournament quarterfinals to face Connecticut, the top squad in the conference's Blue Division, on Saturday night in Storrs, Conn. (7:00 p.m.).
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Villanova (16 points) edged out DePaul (15 points) for fourth place in the BIG EAST Red Division and the right to host the first round game. The Wildcats secured a spot in the tournament with last week's 3-0 victory at Rutgers.
Providence fell one point short of gaining the fourth slot in the Blue Division with 17 points. Georgetown closed the regular season with 18 points and will host DePaul on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. with the winner advancing to face Red Division champion Louisville on Saturday night.
EYE ON THE `CATS
Senior Mike Seamon sets the scoring pace for the Wildcats and that's nothing new - he has been atop that list for most of his four seasons on the Main Line. Seamon scored five goals and seven assists in 2009 for 17 points. All five of those goals were scored in the last 10 games.
Freshman Kyle Soroka contributed five goals and two assists for 12 points while junior Jordy Griffith added three goals and three assists for nine points. A total of 15 different Wildcats scored at least one point this season.
One season after playing every minute in net for VU as a freshman, Chris Bresnahan once again carried a heavy workload in net for the Wildcats. The sophomore from McLean, Va., started all 18 of Villanova's games and posted a 1.24 goals against average. He was credited with nine victories and four shutouts.
YOUNG AND RESTLESS
Villanova returns to the BIG EAST Tournament for the sixth time in the last seven seasons despite a roster that relies heavily on youth. Only two seniors - Seamon and Adam Amann - and four juniors - Griffith, Nick Rouzier, Chris Christian and Sean Mergenthal - appeared in 12 or more games this season. Meanwhile, a young corps that includes the likes of sophomore Kevin Garcia, freshman Kyle McCarthy, freshman Ryan Whalen, sophomore Matt Margiotta, Bresnahan, and Soroka played pivotal roles for VU.
HOME AGAIN
The Wildcats host their first BIG EAST Tournament game since facing Georgetown in consecutive seasons in 2004 and 2005. Both of those contests ended in a draw with the Hoyas advancing on penalty kicks. Those are the only two home BIG EAST Tournament games in VU men's soccer history.
Last season, Providence eliminated Villanova from the 2008 BIG EAST Tournament with a 2-1 victory in Rhode Island.
