VILLANOVA, Pa. – After nearly 700 minutes of clean sheet work at the Higgins Soccer Complex dating to the end of the 2018 season, Villanova conceded an opposing goal at home and it was a painful blow. A Connor Alba goal in the 88th minute was the difference in tightly contested BIG EAST match played Saturday giving Marquette a 1-0 victory over the Wildcats.
Villanova fell to 8-5-1 overall, 1-3-1 BIG EAST while the Golden Eagles are now 6-6-1 overall, 2-3 in the conference.
After an entertaining second half that included several high quality chances for both sides and a series of splendid saves from Villanova goalkeeper Carson Williams, Marquette broke through. Luca Prpa found Connor Alba to the right side of the box. Alba fired a low shot into the left corner of the net at 87:16 to snap a Wildcats shutout streak that began last season against St. John's and lasted 681:40.
It was the first score against the Wildcats at home this season and just the eighth tally for an opponent in 2019.
The first serious chance of the day belonged to the Wildcats. It came in the 12th minute when junior Richie Schlentz sent a cross in from the left side that roll into the box and gave the Wildcats a dangerous opportunity. But Marquette was able to knock the ball out of harm's way to keep the match deadlocked at zero.
In the 29th minute it was freshman Lyam MacKinnon with a chance. MacKinnon made a nifty move in the middle of the pitch near the top of the 18 yard box and sent a left-footed shot that sailed just over the crossbar.
Marquette soon got a quality opportunity of its own on a free kick to the right side of Villanova goalkeeper Carson Williams 20 yards from the goal. Luca Prpa sent an arcing shot that clipped the crossbar and sailed over the net in the 32nd minute.
As the first half clock wound down, redshirt freshman Seidu Shamsudeen and senior Evan Vare just missed connecting on a chance to the left of Marquette goalkeeper Cedrik Stern.
Junior Theo Quartey nearly gave the 'Cats the lead in the 43rd minute as Villanova pushed forward on a counterattack. Quartey dribbled in from the right side while Stern came off his line to challenge Quartey. The native of Ghanna dribbled past Stern but his shot was deflected by a Golden Eagles defender and went wide beyond the right post.
Halftime arrived with the score level at zero. Marquette owned a 6-4 advantage on shots while the Wildcats held a 4-2 margin on corner kicks.
In the 51st minute Williams had to be ready as the Golden Eagles' Josh Hancock redirected a corner kick towards the center of the net. Williams made the save.
Williams followed that with a spectacular save on Marquette's Lukas Sunneson, denying the Golden Eagles midfielder from close in range in the 58th minute.
Villanova came close to grabbing a goal in the 76th minute as Shamsudeen found himself on the right side near the goal line with the ball off a rebound. His shot seemed ticketed for an open net before Marquette's Patrick Siegrist blocked the ball away.
Just as the match seemed destined for overtime, the Golden Eagles picked up the late score. It came just four days after the Wildcats got their own 88th minute game-winner in a 2-1 triumph at La Salle.
The Wildcats will now shift their sights to a Wednesday home date with Providence. Kickoff for that contest – streamed via the BIG EAST Digital Network on You Tube and Twitter – is set for 3 p.m.
