VILLANOVA, Pa. – The Villanova Wildcats return to their home pitch on Wednesday for another key BIG EAST Conference clash. The Creighton Bluejays will be at the Higgins Soccer Complex for a match that kicks off at 3:05 p.m.
Nick Mantegna will have the call on the live stream via the BIG EAST Digital Network presented by FloSports.
Villanova was edged in overtime Saturday by St. John's 1-0. The Red Storm's goal came off a penalty kick in the 92
nd minute.
"St. John's is a very good team," stated Villanova head coach
Tom Carlin. "That was a game that could have gone either way."
The good news is that Villanova has surrendered just one goal in five BIG EAST outings (4-1). And that came courtesy of a penalty kick opportunity.
"The goals we have been getting scored on us have been off PK's or set pieces," noted Carlin. "We've been very good in the run of play and I'm really proud of how the guys have defended."
That task has grown more challenging of late with two key performers in the defensive midfield sidelined by injury. Junior
Marcus Brenes, who started the team's first five games, last saw action in a 2-1 victory over Temple on Sept. 11. Junior
Josh Belluz went down late in the first half of last week's 1-0 win at Connecticut and was not in uniform Sunday.
Senior
Dylan Middlebrook and sophomore
Dominic Cyriacks have shouldered heavier loads in their absence and excelled.
Senior goalkeeper
Carson Williams has also been sensational of late, making nine saves in the two games last week and has lowered his goals against average for the season to 0.79.
Creighton dropped a 3-1 decision to Marquette Saturday night in Omaha. The Bluejays come to Villanova with a 3-6-1 overall mark, 0-4 BIG EAST.
These two teams did not meet in the 2020 season – played in the spring – due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. Creighton posted shutout victories over the Wildcats from 2017-19, including a 1-0 triumph at the Higgins Soccer Complex in 2018.
The Wildcats, who are tied with Georgetown atop the BIG EAST race with 12 points (the Hoyas are 4-0), will play two of their next three at home. They host DePaul next Wednesday at 3 p.m., which will serve as the program's "Senior Day". This Saturday Villanova is set to visit No. 1 Georgetown in a match set to get underway at 1 p.m.
