Final Stats

VILLANOVA, Pa. -- Villanova has thrived in critical moments in the new season and its efficient work late in the game was the difference again Saturday, as the Wildcats downed Delaware 2-1 in double overtime.

Junior Padraic McCullaugh scored both goals for Villanova (3-0-0 overall), each time on an assist from freshman Zach Zandi. The game-winner came in the 102nd minute from the middle part of the 18-yard box.

"We talked about our forwards showing their strength," stated Villanova head coach Tom Carlin. "Padge (McCullaugh) and Max (Kroschwitz) have done that for us. When we score goals, we're pretty good." The pivotal sequence took place early in the second 10-minute extra session. Zandi (West Chester, Pa./Henderson High School), playing in his first home match for the Wildcats after missing Tuesday's win over Drexel with an injury, dribbled the ball in near the goal line on the right side. He worked his way into position to deliver the ball through a maze of Blue Hens to McCullaugh.

The native of Sacramento, Cal., did the rest, firing a left-footed blast that beat Delaware goalkeeper Blai Palmi high and to the left side of net at 101:17. The score ignited a celebration near the Villanova sideline as McCullaugh was mobbed by his teammates after notching his fourth goal of the young season.

"This was a great team win," stated Carlin. "We knew this would be a big test for us and it was. Our depth was big for us, especially in the back with guys like Michael Manta and Kian Zapata stepping up for us when we were without Colton Bryant and Chris Hill in the second half."

Goalkeeper Will Steiner made several clutch saves for the Wildcats when the contest was deadlocked and finished with six saves on the afternoon.

The creativity of Zandi helped Villanova grab the early lead on this warm and sunny day at the Higgins Soccer Complex. He found McCullaugh open on the left side of the box and the junior did the rest, sending a shot past Palmi at 17:40.

"Zandi and Miguel Polley really do a good job of setting Padge and Max up," noted Carlin.

That was the best scoring chance of the first 45 minutes for either team in the course of live play. Delaware owned an 11-3 edge in shots in the period.

Another key moment came in the 31st minute with the Blue Hens pressing in the attacking third. A pass moving through the 18 yard area deflected by a Wildcats' defender, who was called for a hand ball. The resultant penalty kick was converted by Delaware's Jaime Martinez at 30:31.

The match would remaine deadlocked the rest of the way until Zandi and McCullaugh teamed up for the second time today.

"I told our guys after the game, `this was a great team win,'" Carlin stated. "We got a lot of help from different guys. We showed our resiliency again."

Indeed, it was the third game-winner of the young season for McCullaugh. The junior tallied three goals as a freshman in 2013 before a knee injury suffered in the 2014 season opener limited him to eight appearances with no points and has surpassed his career total with four a mere three games into 2015.

The Wildcats are idle this week until they visit Monmouth next Saturday evening at 7 p.m.