VILLANOVA, Pa. – The first of two matches this week against nationally ranked opponents comes Tuesday for Villanova, as the Wildcats host No. 17 James Madison (8-2-1 overall, 3-0-1 Colonial Athletic Association) at the Higgins Soccer Complex. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. and the match will be live streamed via the Nova Nation All-Access Pass at villanova.com.

On Saturday, the Wildcats (6-3-1 overall, 1-1-1 BIG EAST) return to league action when they travel to Queens to take on No. 14 St. John's (9-1-0 overall) on its home turf at 7 p.m.

"It's a great opportunity for us," says head coach Tom Carlin of the week ahead. "These are the kinds of games our guys came here to play."

For Villanova, though, it's first things first and that means all eyes are focused on an intriguing non-conference matchup. The Dukes own victories over nationally ranked Wake Forest and Cal State Fullerton. The Demon Deacons were ranked No. 1 in the nation when JMU registered a 1-0 victory while Fullerton checks in at No. 25 in this week's Top Drawer Soccer poll. Senior Manuel Ferriol already has 11 goals to his credit and has won the CAA Offensive Player of the Week award for three consecutive weeks.

"James Madison is a very talented team," states Carlin. "Ferriol is one of the best attacking threats in the country. He definitely poses a challenge."

The Wildcats defeated Xavier 1-0 on Friday afternoon with junior Theo Quartey scoring the game-winner in the 80^th minute with his first goal of 2019. It marked the seventh shutout recorded by Villanova goalkeeper Carson Williams in 10 games this season. Entering Tuesday's match, Villanova is 5-0 on hits home pitch at the Higgins Soccer Complex and has yet to surrender a goal.

In fact, Villanova the Wildcats have allowed just three goals all season – at Penn State on Sept. 13 (1-0), at Maryland on Sept. 16 (1-0) and at Creighton on Sept. 28 (1-0). Eight of Villanova's 10 games have concluded with a 1-0 result.
The Dukes present a stern but welcome test.

"This is not your ordinary midweek non-conference game," Carlin says. "If you have postseason aspirations, this is the kind of game you need to play. It's the kind of matchup you'll see in the NCAA Tournament."

Villanova has eight regular season games left on its slate – four at the Higgins Soccer Complex and four more on the road. Six of those contests will be within the BIG EAST. The final non-conference clash comes on Tuesday, Oct. 15 against Philly Soccer Six rival La Salle in Philadelphia.

"We've been in this pattern all season of playing a game every two or three days," stated Carlin. "I think we're prepared for October and the kinds of opponents we'll face this month."