VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova's starting 11 for Thursday afternoon's 1-1 draw with Iona featured seven first or second-year players, including three true freshmen (Zach Miles, Gleb Bogdanov, and Brody Crampton) and a first-year sophomore (Fynn Lahrsen). Another freshman Matt Klann logged 32 minutes as a second half reserve.
 
In 2025, there are multiple young faces making an impact on the Wildcats. And while that is a positive development and beacon for where Nova hopes to go, it also creates a learning curve as a young side acclimates itself to the pace and speed of college soccer.
 
"We're asking a lot of our freshmen," stated Fetrow. "We're asking them to grow up quickly because they're playing key positions for a lot of minutes. I think in our Iona game you saw a glimpse of freshmen mistakes. We've got to improve on that and be more consistent with our performance.
 
"Overall, though, I am thrilled with the class."
 
Next up for the team is a Labor Day matinee with Philly Soccer Six rival Saint Joseph's (1-0-1 overall). The Hawks last saw action in their regular season home opener Wednesday night on Hawk Hill, earning a 2-2 draw with VMI. Mike Samsel and Nick Mantegna will have the live stream call on the Villanova Athletics YouTube channel at noon.
 
One area where the Wildcats have displayed early progress is in front of their own goal. In 2024, Villanova surrendered 38 goals, an average of 2.24 per game. It has one clean sheet to its credit thus far (a 5-0 win over Rider in the season opener) and a one goal effort in the draw with Iona (1-1 tie).
 
Goalkeeper Sebastian Cutler DeJesus is in his second year with the Wildcats and has watched the growth play out in front of him.
 
"Credit to Coach Fetrow," says the native of Brooklyn, N.Y. "Every day in training we're working on defensive unit, structure, attack first defense. It's a credit to him and the backline, midfielders, forwards. It's the whole team, really. Defense starts with the strikers.
 
"We have a young group. The great thing about having a young team is that everyone is energetic and gritty. That's the kind of team we want to identify as."
 
Saint Joseph's figures to present a challenge in a city rivalry matchup that resumes in the regular season for the first time since 2017 (a 3-0 Wildcats' win at the Higgins Soccer Complex).
 
"Saint Joe's is a good team," states Cutler DeJesus. "We're really pumped to get back into action so quickly after Iona. This is the college season with quick turnarounds. We'll rest, recover and focus on getting better."