VILLANOVA, Pa. – A midweek victory over New Haven (3-1) got the Villanova Wildcats back in the in column and its record to level (5-5-1 overall). On Saturday, it turns its attention back to the BIG EAST (0-3-0 overall) when it hosts Providence (5-4-1 overall, 0-2-0 BIG EAST) at 1 p.m.
ESPN+ will broadcast the contest live from the Higgins Soccer Complex.
"We've struggled in the Big East, so getting back in the win column is great," said midfielder Luke Martelli, who leads Nova in scoring with three goals and nine points. "It gives us some momentum heading into Saturday and will get some guys (mojo) up in the locker rooms we can go after the three points against Providence."
The Wildcats broke through for three goals against New Haven after having endured consecutive shutout losses in league play at Xavier (2-0) and to UConn (1-0).
"It had been two games since we had scored a goal," noted head coach Mark Fetrow. "To be able to get three the other day feels good. We want to carry that over. We want to keep that attacking prowess by staying aggressive in the final third. We're going to take that into Saturday and work on improving some of our defensive tendencies and our shape. Our communication will be important against Providence."
The Friars are 4-0-1 at home and 1-4 as the visitor thus far in the 2026 regular season. Providence has been idle since suffering a 6-1 loss at nationally ranked Georgetown on Oct. 2.
Prior to the match Saturday, Villanova will celebrate Senior Day with an on-field ceremony that gets underway at 12:50 p.m.
Six members of the Wildcats graduating class of 2027 will be honored. The group includes:
Forward Javon Daniels, a Burlington, N.J. native who has appeared in 41 games in the Blue and White and started eight times in his four seasons. He has two assists this season and contributed three goals and a pair of assists in 2025.
Martelli, a native of Kinzers, Pa., who missed the 2024 season and much of 2025 with a pair of major knee injuries, has returned to start all 11 games this season as a team co-captain.
Marcello Mazzola, a product of Newtown Square, Pa., who has dealt with multiple injuries over the course of his time at Villanova. The midfielder has appeared in 20 career games, including 12 last season, and contributed a goal and pair of assists in 2025. He has been sidelined thus far in 2026.
Lower Merion, Pa., native Sam Nyenka has been a rotation regular in his two seasons as a Wildcat after transferring from West Virginia in 2025. Last season he scored three goals and added three assists in his Nova debut, and he has followed that with a goal and three assists to this point in 2026.
Josh Oladele is the fifth Wildcat who will be saluted on Saturday. After spending much of his career at forward, the Yardley, Pa., native has seamlessly shifted to a central role in Villanova's defensive structure this season. He has started 16 times in 32 career appearances and has a goal and four assists on his career ledger.
Like Oladele, Mikhail Zaretser has recently spent more of his time with the Wildcats' back wall after previously occupying the defensive midfield. This product of Brooklyn, N.Y. has appeared in 46 games over his four seasons and made 18 starts with one assist to his credit.
