For returning college soccer athletes, the spring is typically a time for renewal. In the wake of a compact fall regular season spread over 10 weeks, the second semester offers the opportunity for technical growth and development with only a handful of scrimmages sprinkled through March and April.
 
            Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated a far different approach in 2020.
 
            At Villanova what had already been a soccer training period fraught with injury setbacks, was altered completely on March 15. That's when the University shut down as part of the state-wide lockdown implemented in response to the pandemic. As part of the closure, all spring athletic activities were cancelled.
 
            For Carson Williams, Villanova's standout goalkeeper who helped the 'Cats compile the nation's top save percentage in 2019, that meant a return to his home in Plano, Tex. Like many college athletes across the nation, he's been there ever since, adapting to online classes and trying to train as best he can.
 
            "It's definitely a little weird," Williams said recently by phone from Texas. "We all understand how serious a pandemic is and the need to do our part. But it almost feels a little bit like being back in high school, when you're at home and your parents are asking if you finished your schoolwork."
 
            The Wildcats have a weekly team Zoom meeting and there are plenty of text exchanges too.
 
            "Our coaches have done a good job of helping to keep us connected," Williams stated of head coach Tom Carlin and assistants Mark Fetrow and Alex Balog. "We are able to share some ideas and look at ways we can try to stay sharp."
 
            This is a particularly unique time for the Wildcats, who finished 9-8-1 in 2019. Stalwarts such as Conor Bradley, Shane Bradley and Luca Mellor completed their eligibility in the fall and Villanova has already announced the arrival of seven newcomers – including two graduate transfers – for 2020. Several more additions are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
 
            Prior to the shutdown, the Wildcats were battling injuries on a roster already impacted by the departures of its class of 2020 seniors. Villanova was down to 12 healthy players for its Feb. 9 scrimmage against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
 
            "We got through it pretty well," noted Williams. "Having small numbers made us all realize how hard we have to work. No detail is too small. I think we all came out of it understanding that."
 
            Williams is excited about his team's prospects for the fall season, however that may play out in the aftermath of the pandemic. Villanova was bolstered last season by six freshmen who logged extensive minutes, including the team's leading scorer Lyam MacKinnon along with Josh Belluz, Viktor Benediktsson, Marcus Brenes, Anthony Dragisics, and Gray Ricca. Another Wildcat, Seidu Shamsudeen, was a redshirt freshman after missing all of 2018 with an injury.
 
            "That freshman class gave us a boost and I'm excited to see what those guys can do with a year of college soccer under their belts," Williams said.
 
            As for the newcomers, Williams has met most of them on their recruiting visit to campus.
 
            "The thing I noticed is that they all fit our culture," stated Williams. "The coaches did a great job of finding talented guys who buy into what we're about."
 
            Of course, a return to campus and the familiar turf of the Higgins Soccer Complex remains very much on the minds of all of the Wildcats, although no one can predict when that may be possible. For now, Williams is making the best of matters at his home. A modified rebounder device has allowed him to face some "shots" in the yard.
 
            "I'm able to kick it and it comes back pretty hard," he stated.
 
            Williams' shot-stopping skill is elite, a fact reinforced by a plaque the NCAA issued in tabbing the Wildcats the national leader in save percentage last season (.848). The redshirt sophomore was in net for every minute last season, posting an 0.76 goals against average.
 
            "That was definitely a positive," he stated. "We didn't have the kind of season we wanted, but it was nice to be recognized as a team for the way we defended. It was all of us – Luca, Shane, everyone."
 
            In the short term, Williams hopes to use this time to his athletic advantage.
 
            "The things you can work on in this environment are the core fundamentals, things like your footwork," he said. "I'm concentrating on those.
 
            "Right now, it's about being self-motivated. There's no one watching to see if you are doing what you're supposed to be doing. It's all on you."