PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Two teams hoping to build off the momentum of major road BIG EAST victories last weekend squared off on Friday afternoon here. Providence used the fuel from two goals scored in the contest's first 19 minutes to post a 5-0 win.
 
Last Saturday, the Wildcats knocked off No. 22 Connecticut 2-1 while the Friars downed Xavier 3-1 in Cincinnati.
 
On its homecoming weekend, Providence put Villanova on its back foot before the contest was 20 minutes old. The Friars scored twice in 7:11.
 
The first goal came at 11:02 and was scored by Fernando Garcia Gil. Assists on the score were credited to Sam Montalto and Michael Varley.
 
Another goal came at 18:13 as Ian Abbey scored the goal and Bruno Rosa picked up the assist.
 
"I thought both goals were soft on our part," stated Villanova head coach Mark Fetrow. "We had done a very good job of defending collectively at UConn, but we weren't at that level today and it cost us early. When you fall behind 2-0 to a Big East team on the road, it's tough to come back from."
 
It marked the second time in its last three matches that the Wildcats had fallen into an early hole away from home. The same scenario unfolded on Sept. 23, when a pair of quick goals gave Penn the early advantage over the Wildcats in what became a 3-0 Quakers' triumph in Philly Soccer Six action.
 
Providence protected that lead for the remainder of the period, posting an 8-5 edge in shots over the 45 minutes and a 4-0 edge in shots on frame. Alex Yagudayev made two saves in goal for the Wildcats.
 
"We got to halftime down 2-0 but weren't in bad shape," Fetrow stated. "We were upset that we allowed the goals but there was a whole half of soccer to play. But they got two goals early in the second half and really put us at a disadvantage."
 
Another Yagudayev save thwarted an early second half chance for the Friars. But a short while later a feed from Abbey was turned into a Rosa goal, reversing the scoring combination from the earlier goal.
 
The Friars held a 3-0 lead at that point.
 
Rosa netted another goal at 50:11 to extend the margin to 4-0. Varley was credited with the assist on the score.
 
Providence added a fifth goal at 77:05 to make it 5-0.
 
This game concluded a run of three straight away from home for Villanova. It returns to its Higgins Soccer Complex home turf on Tuesday to host NJIT at 3 p.m. (ESPN+) in non-league action, the first of four in a row at home.
 
"Our approach was right today," Fetrow said, "but our execution was off and Providence made us pay. We get to go back home and clean some things up to get ready for NJIT."