VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova's run of October challenges continues Wednesday night, when the Wildcats (5-4-2 overall, 2-2-1 BIG EAST) visit Butler (7-3-1 overall, 2-1-1 BIG EAST) at 7 p.m. The BIG EAST Digital Network on Flo Sports will carry the live stream from Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl.
Last week, the 'Cats downed Marquette 1-0 and dropped a 2-1 decision to unbeaten Xavier in games played at the Higgins Soccer Complex. Next comes the trip to Indianapolis followed by a Saturday date with defending BIG EAST champion Georgetown on the home turf on Villanova's West Campus.
As the week begins the BIG EAST regular season standings are very tight. Xavier moved into first place with Saturday's win alongside Seton Hall with each side owning nine points. Butler, Georgetown and Villanova are tied for third place with seven points, though the Bulldogs and Hoyas have played one less league match (four) than the 'Cats.
Providence is in sixth place with six points and Creighton and St. John's are next with five points.
Ten of the league's 11 schools have between three and nine points.
The Wildcats' will be looking for a bounce back effort against Butler, which picked up a 4-1 non-league win Saturday over IUPUI. Villanova seemed on the verge of earning a point Saturday afternoon before Xavier scored with 63 seconds on the clock.
"It's unfortunate," stated Villanova head coach
Tom Carlin. "Credit to Xavier for getting the result. We played well against a good team. They scored a couple of bang-bang goals. Now, it's about recovering and preparing for another good team in Butler."
Butler is 4-2-1 at home in Indianapolis this season while the 'Cats are 1-3-1 on foreign turf. Last season, a
Seidu Shamsudeen goal in the 81
st minute lifted Nova past the Bulldogs 1-0 at the Higgins Soccer Complex. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series, 7-2, and Villanova is in search of its first ever win on the Butler campus (this also includes a 2016 BIG EAST postseason clash).
The Wildcats would like to give their attack a jolt if they can. After scoring four goals in a win at St. John's on Sept. 23, Villanova has scored a single goal in each of its last four outings. They are 2-2 in that stretch.
Seniors
Lyam MacKinnon and Viktor Bendiktsson share the team lead in goals with five. Villanova has been more productive on set pieces than in recent seasons. A set piece led to the goal that secured last week's win over Marquette, scored by Bendiktsson.
Butler, meanwhile, figures to test the Wildcats' sturdy defense. The Bulldogs average 2.9 goals per game thus far, including 13 in their last four contests.
Villanova University is in the midst of its fall break. The Wildcats will return to campus Thursday and get set to host the Hoyas Saturday afternoon. The BIG EAST Digital Network on Flo Sports will also carry that contest beginning at 1 p.m.
