VILLANOVA, Pa. – Two of the cornerstone figures in Villanova's recent men's soccer success have recently signed contracts with professional soccer teams.
 
Lyam MacKinnon, a native of Lausanne, Switzerland, who paced the Wildcats in scoring in each of the past two seasons, is set to begin his pro career later this month with Greenville Triumph SC in USL League 1. Greenville opens its 2023 campaign on March 25 against the Richmond Kickers.
 
"We're very excited for Lyam as he takes the next step in his career," stated Villanova head coach Tom Carlin. "It's  a true credit to the hard work and commitment he has put into this – not only our team but himself over the years. We know this is only the beginning for him.
 
"We're pretty excited for him."
 
Among MacKinnon's highlights in the Blue and White during his four years was scoring the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Vermont, giving Nova its first ever NCAA Tournament victory in 2021.
 
Viktor Bendiktsson helped anchor the Villanova defense at center back over the past two plus seasons. In 202, he started all 17 regular season games and notched career bests in goals (five) and assists (two).
 
The native of Iceland will begin his pro career with AB Argir in the Faroe Islands, a territory in the North Atlantic near Denmark. AB Argir plays in the Faroe Islands Premiere League.
 
"We all know what Viktor can bring to a team," Carlin said. "Any coach would be happy to have him as part of the team. It's definitely a terrific opportunity for him and we know he'll make a great impact."