WEST POINT, N.Y.– Army (2-1-2 overall) picked up a pair of goals in the span of five minutes in the second half to post a 2-0 victory over Villanova in a non-conference soccer match played on a beautiful late summer evening overlooking the Hudson River.
 
The first score came on a penalty kick and the second on an own goal midway through the second half.
 
"We did some good things in the first half," said Villanova head coach Mark Fetrow, "and we didn't just much tactically in the second half. But we just didn't execute well enough and made some mistakes defensively."
 
At Malek Stadium, Villanova (2-1-2 overall) carried most of the play over the course of the first 45 minutes. The Wildcats generated all four shots taken in the period with one – from Foday Bangura – on frame.
 
But neither team was able to break through into the scoring column.
 
In the first minute of the second half the best scoring chance of the evening presented itself to the Wildcats on a counter. A beautiful ball found sophomore Fynn Lahrsen on the right side with space. Lahrsen sent a shot on net that Army goalkeeper Michael Guiry was away to knock away for his second save of the night.
 
"We did a good job getting the ball into the final third," Fetrow stated, "but really didn't create much with the ball once we were there. And our execution on set pieces was inconsistent."
 
A misplay in the 51^st minute nearly got Army the go-ahead score. The Cadets were behind goalkeeper Alex Yagudayev with possession and only two Wildcats defenders pressing. But freshman back Brody Crampton cleared the ball out of danger, the second time in as many outings that he directly thwarted an opposing bid for goal.
 
Army was able to ramp up its pressure early in the second half. It created four shots over the first 17 minutes of the half to go with a pair of corner kicks. A free kick in the 63^rd minute was cleared out of harm's way by the Wildcats.
 
The Wildcats were whistled for a foul inside their own 18-yard box after a collision. A penalty kick was awarded to the Cadets and Jack De Simone converted the attempt with a shot just inside the right post at 67:14.
 
"We gave one up but I didn't think the response to that was what we needed to be," said Fetrow. "And then we had the own goal. A 2-0 deficit with limited time left is a tough hill to climb."
 
A miscue allowed the Cadets to grab a 2-0 lead in the 73^rd minute. A Villanova defender attempting to feed the ball back to Yagudayev applied too much pace and the ball rolled over the goal line despite the keeper's best effort at 72:16.
 
A Wildcats free kick in the 88^th minute provided a final bid but Lahrsen's header was collected by a diving Guiry.
 
"This is a little setback," said Fetrow. "We've got a lot of inexperience out there and we knew that there would be ups and downs. We just have to get back to work and get ready for the next one."
 
Earlier on Monday Sam Nyenka was tabbed Philly Soccer Six Player of the Week after recording the game-winner a week ago in a 1-0 Soccer Six triumph over Saint Joseph's. Alex Yagudayev, who recorded shutouts in both games last week, was named Soccer Six Goalkeeper of the Week.
 
The Wildcats return to the Higgins Soccer Complex Saturday to host Princeton at 1 p.m. Villanova will welcome home the players who have helped build the program as part of its annual Alumni Day.