MILWAUKEE, Wis. – A first half goal from reigning BIG EAST Freshman of the Week Balthi Saunders and some stellar defensive work helped Villanova earn a 1-0 victory over Marquette (3-4 overall, 0-1 BIG EAST) here Saturday night.
 
Senior goalkeeper Carson Williams anchored a stingy defense, making six saves, including several of the spectacular variety. Junior center backs Josh Belluz and Viktor Benediktsson also played pivotal roles in limiting the Golden Eagles to 12 total shots on the night.
 
The victory was Villanova's third straight. It is now 5-1 overall, 1-0 BIG EAST.
 
"It wasn't our best effort," stated Villanova head coach Tom Carlin. "I thought we were a little sluggish to start and they got a hold of the game and were controlling the tempo. But midway through the first half we were able to settle in and we got a goal. We thought we could carry that into the second half but credit to Marquette, they didn't allow us to do that.
 
"It became obvious that this was a game where we needed to keep our defensive shape and that our back line and D-mids were really going to have to hold the middle for us. I thought guys like Josh, Viktor, Dominic (Cyriacks) and Dylan (Middlebrook) did a great job."
 
The Golden Eagles had the two most dangerous scoring chances over the first 20 minutes of the match but both were turned away by Williams. In the 10^th minute, Williams rose up to deflect a blast off the foot of Christian Marquez over the crossbar.
 
In the 18^th minute, Marquez again fired a shot that Williams pushed away to his left before Josh Belluz stepped in to clear the ball out of danger.
 
Midway through the period Villanova began to gain control of the possession. A Gray Ricca feed led to a Lyam MacKinnon bid that caromed off the right post in the 25^th minute.
 
A short while later, freshman Balthi Saunders dribbled in on the right side and then fired a left-footed strike into the left side of the net to put the Wildcats on top 1-0 at 27:57. The goal was Saunders third in as many games.
 
"That was just Balthi being Balthi," stated Carlin. "He's really crafty and can get defenders out of position. That's what he did there."
 
The Wildcats took that one goal edge into halftime. They owned a 10-4 advantage in shots over the first 45 minutes.
 
Williams had to be on point again in the 59^th minute, this time turning away an impressive bid by Marquette's Beto Soto. Williams leaped to knock the shot away that seemed on target for the top shelf.
 
In the 74^th minute Marquette's Gabe Kash sent a shot low towards the left side of the net that Williams was able to knock away for his fifth save of the evening at Valley Fields.
 
The sixth save, in the 82^nd minute, may have been Williams' best of the night. Soto sent a shot towards the left side of the net that changed direction after being deflected yet Williams was able to able to get a hand on the ball to keep the clean sheet intact.
 
"This was one of those games where we needed Carson to make big saves," noted Carlin, "and he made a few of them for us."
 
The Wildcats, who were without an injured Marcus Brenes Saturday night, head to Penn State on Tuesday night to meet the Nittany Lions at 7 p.m.
 
For now, though, they can savor this one.
 
"Any time you win on the road in the Big East," Carlin said, "it's an accomplishment. These teams are so tough, especially at home. I'm really proud of our resolve."