VILLANOVA, Pa. – The final home game of the season looms for the Villanova Wildcats and though it doesn't contain the implications the team hoped it would, there is still an important to do list at hand. At the top of it is the chance to honor three impactful student-athletes who have all played a significant role in the program over the past four seasons.
Villanova will honor Enda O'Neill, Zach Zandi and Kian Zapata in a pre-game ceremony prior to Wednesday match against Seton Hall at the Higgins Soccer Complex. Kickoff is set for 3:05 p.m. and the contest can be viewed on the BIG EAST Digital Network via the Fox Sports Go app.
"It's a chance for us to thank three young men who have impacted our program in a positive way," stated head coach Tom Carlin.
The Wildcats were eliminated from BIG EAST Tournament consideration on Saturday. A 1-0 overtime loss at Providence was another in a series of near misses that have vexed VU (6-8-2 overall, 1-6-1 BIG EAST) in the month of October.
"The results haven't been what any of us were hoping for," stated Carlin. "But the resolve and fight have been strong."
Part of that grit no doubt is owed to the presence of the trio that will be saluted prior to the game Wednesday.
O'Neil is a savvy defender who stepped immediately into a key role in the Wildcats' defense from the moment he arrived from the University of Wisconsin. His workload (1,246 minutes played in 14 games) reflects the vital role he played, both as a defender and occasional offensive contributor on set pieces (he has recorded three assists this season).
"Enda's been great for us," noted Carlin. "We kind of look at him as an honorary captain. Even though he hasn't been here very long, his presence and skill really helped our team."
Zandi became a key distributor from the moment he first donned the Blue and White as a freshman in 2015. As a sophomore, he overcame nagging injuries to start 16 of the 19 games he appeared in, scoring three goals and adding four assists as VU earned its first NCAA Tournament bid. In 2017, he was selected as the Philly Soccer Six Player of the Year.
This season, he's been a force, tallying six goals along with three assists while starting all 16 of the Wildcats' games thus far. Carlin only wishes he could clone his gifted midfielder.
"We need another one of him," states Carlin. "Our plan had been to pair Z with Seidu (Shamsudeen) and that would have really opened up some things for both of them. We looked at that as a really dynamic and dangerous tandem. Seidu's (season-ending) injury changed things and allowed teams to focus their attention on Z. But he's kept working, stayed positive and really had a big-time senior season."
Zapata spent most of the first three seasons of his career as a defender. He was switched to forward in 2018 and has responded by consistently providing the Wildcats a lift, often when he enters the game as a reserve midway through the first half. His second half goal helped Villanova down DePaul 1-0 on Sept. 29 at the Higgins Soccer Complex.
"Kian's given us a boost every time we've turned to him," says Carlin. "He's been a factor for us and has created some chances around the opponents' net."
