Final Stats

CHICAGO, Ill. -- Villanova moved out to a fast start Saturday but was unable to hold off a second half charge from DePaul (2-10 overall, 1-2 BIG EAST) and dropped a 3-2 decision to the Blue Demons at Wish Field.

The Wildcats (6-5-0 overall, 1-2-0 BIG EAST) had jumped out to an early 2-0 lead but saw the Blue Demons score twice after halftime, including on a penalty kick in the 85th minute, to claim the victory.

"We got out to the start we wanted," stated Wildcats head coach Tom Carlin, "but when you give up in three goals in a Big East game, it's going to be tough. We just made too many mistakes."

On a clear and sunny day in the Windy City, the Wildcats were the team in control early. Junior Andreas Bartosinski caught DePaul goalkeeper Mack Robinson off his line in the ninth minute and sent a header toward net that Robinson couldn't reach to give VU a 1-0 lead at 8:23.

A pivotal sequence took place in the game's 14th minute when sophomore goalkeeper Will Steiner -- who had logged every minute in net for VU since the start of the 2014 campaign -- was slow to get up after a collision with a Blue Demon player. Steiner accompanied the Wildcats' athletic trainer to the sidelines at 12:55 and did not return. Chris Polo stepped into the void and made two saves in his regular season debut.

"Losing Steiner influences our flow of communication," Carlin stated. "He is so good at being vocal and keeping our guys aware at all times of what's going on. I thought we missed the presence he brings us back there."

Freshman Zach Zandi gave the Wildcats a boost when he navigated his way through the Blue Demons' defense with sharp ball skills and then sent a shot past Robinson for an unassisted goal at 19:11. It was 2-0 and the Wildcats' prospects appeared as bright as the abundant sunshine.

But matters began to turn in the 30th minute when Jake Scheper sent a shot inside the far post to shave the DePaul gap to 2-1. The Wildcats would hold that advantage into halftime.

DePaul evened the score at 49:57 when Simon Megally scored the first of his two goals on the day to deadlock matters.

Both teams had chances to grab that critical third goal. Sean Sheridan, Zandi and McCullaugh were among those who applied pressure to the Blue Demons' back four.

"We were possessing and creating quality chances," Carlin noted. "We just didn't convert one and it came back to bite us."

The pendulum swung toward DePaul when the Wildcats were whistled for a foul inside their own 18 yard box with time winding down. Megally converted the PK and DePaul had its first lead of the day at 84:09.

Both John Jlopleh and Miguel Polley had late bids in the final four minutes to pull VU even but were unable to find the equalizer.

"We're just making too many mistakes in our own end," states Carlin. "Our attention to detail has to be better. It's too late in the year to be making these kinds of mistakes."

Villanova returns home to the Higgins Soccer Complex Wednesday to host Providence at 4:05 p.m. (BIG EAST Digital Network.