SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – The Villanova Wildcats picked up a hard-earned road victory in the regular season finale, 1-0 over Seton Hall at Owen T. Carroll Field on Wednesday night. Senior Shane Bradley sent a header into the Pirates' net in the 55th minute to provide the margin of victory.
Redshirt sophomore Carson Williams made four saves in posting his ninth shutout of 2019.
With the victory Villanova concludes its season with a 9-8-1 record, (2-6-1 in the BIG EAST). The shutout ties this Wildcats edition for the program record with the 2011 group, which also recorded nine clean sheets.
"I'm proud of the guys," stated Villanova head coach Tom Carlin. "This is a hard game to play, knowing that it's the end. But these guys made it real easy to coach. They stuck to it and were determined to finish this the right way. That's what they did."
Neither side was able to get the upper hand in the first 45 minutes of action. Though Seton Hall enjoyed an 8-4 edge in shots, the Wildcats produced some attacking threats. Midway through the period Villanova earned consecutive corner kicks. The second off the foot of junior Theo Quartey found its way to senior Luca Mellor in the 18 yard box. Mellor redirected the ball with a header that sailed just wide of the left post.
Williams made a big save early in the second half, deflecting a shot with his left hand from the right side by the Hall's Carleton McKenzie, the man whose two goals Saturday helped the Pirates knock off Marquette 2-1.
A short while later, Villanova put on some pressure of its own.
In the first sequence, Quartey sent a fine cross to junior Richie Schlentz. The one-timer from Schlentz appeared headed for just below the crossbar. But the Hall goalkeeper, Andreas Nota, got a hand on the shot to knock it over the crossbar.
But the second bid proved to be on target. Quartey again set the stage, this time finding senior Shane Bradley on a set piece. Shane Bradley then knocked the ball into the goal at 54:34. Villanova had the lead at 1-0.
"It was huge to get that goal," Carlin said. "We ran that play for Shane and he did a great job of converting it."
Villanova leaned on its defense to make sure that it stood up. Shane Bradley and Luca Mellor were again stellar in the middle of the back wall and the Wildcats stood firm as Seton Hall (6-9-1 overall, 3-5-1 BIG EAST) made a push in an effort to earn itself a postseason berth.
A give and go between Schlentz and Shane Bradley nearly netted the Wildcats a second goal in the 72nd minute. Nota stopped the low shot from Schlentz.
The Wildcats put down the clamps the rest of the way and emerged with a win that Carlin labeled "bittersweet."
"We wanted the circumstances to be different, to still be playing for a spot in the playoffs," Carlin stated. "But that isn't how it worked out. We still felt we had been playing good soccer, at Butler and against Georgetown. It was good to see that progress rewarded.
"We feel like we've started a new era. After Georgetown, we told the guys that this would define us. We were able to send the seniors off with a shutout and we'll be feeling their legacy for a long time."
