VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova and No. 20 Penn staged a spirited back-and-forth affair on a windy, overcast September day Tuesday at the Higgins Soccer Complex that ended in a 2-2 draw.  
 
Graduate transfer – and former Quaker - Michael teDuits and Jason Bouregy scored the goals for the Wildcats (0-4-4 overall, 0-1-0 BIG EAST).
 
Penn was already on top 1-0 after a Wildcats' foul in front of their own goal resulted in an indirect free kick that forward Stas Korzeniowski sent into the left lower corner of the net at 9:26. But TeDuits sent a magnificent ball into the upper left corner of the net from 22 yards out at 15:59 to level matters at one.
 
"Talking to teDuits earlier in the day," said Villanova head coach Mark Fetrow, "my message to him was that this was just another game. Don't make it any bigger than it is – unless you go score two goals and get two assists. He got the first goal, it was a great goal. I'm really happy for him.
 
"I think any time you're playing against your alma mater, a place where you spent four years, it always retains a special place in your heart. But I also think there's some guilty pleasure if you're able to get one against them."
 
Senior Jordan Canica found Bouregy, who sent a blast into the net at 19:44 to push the Wildcats on top at 2-1. But the Quakers were able to answer off a blast from Owen Sullivan at 27:53 to level matters at two in a period where both teams created multiple dangerous opportunities.
 
"Penn had given up four goals on the year coming in here so for us to be able to get two in the first half was a good sign," Fetrow stated. "That was really a big positive for us."
 
Center backs O'Neil Dawes and Lorenzo Avalos spent much of their day defending Wildcats' Korzeniowski, whose size was a challenge for the smaller Nova defenders. Yet those two helped lead the effort that kept the Quakers off the scoreboard after halftime and allowed the 'Cats to gain a point.
 
"They played him really tough," noted Fetrow. "I think that's the only way you can play Stas. He's big-bodied, very strong, uses his weight really well, has soft feet and can score goals. I thought Lorenzo and O'Neil both did a good job trying to slow him down and keep the game in front of them.
 
"I'm really proud of those two guys."
 
The Quakers had more chances in the final period than the Wildcats, but Fetrow liked the tenacity his side showed over the final 45 minutes.
 
"They did a good job in the second half, had more of the ball than we did," Fetrow said. "We struggled to have extended possessions and play like we did in the attacking area in the first half. We may have been a little bit safer in the second half in our own end, but I think that's a sign of maturity and growth on our part. I'm happy with our ability to battle and defend.
 
"We didn't get the result. They're really well-coached. Brian Gill does a great job with their organization and structure. But the fact we played a ranked team and went toe to toe with them, is a good thing to have in our back pocket as we head back into the BIG EAST."
 
Villanova returns to conference play Saturday night at St. John's (7 p.m./BIG EAST Digital Network).