VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova head coach Mark Fetrow understands the situation his Wildcats find themselves in heading into Friday night's regular season finale at Seton Hall.
"As a competitor," Fetrow said from behind his office desk in the Jake Nevin Field House this week, "you never want to be the spoiler. But that's where we are."
Indeed, the Wildcats (5-8-3 overall, 0-6-1 BIG EAST) have seen a promising start to the campaign derailed by a series of injuries to key personnel, including center back Lorenzo Avalos and forward Fynn Lahrsen. Last week, the 'Cats played Soccer Six rival Saint Joseph's to a 2-2 draw after building a 2-0 lead. Then No. 6 Akron posted a 5-0 win over Nova Saturday at the Higgins Soccer Complex.
Villanova heads into the action Friday night at Owen T. Carroll Field in search of its first conference win of the campaign.
"We need to end the season with a positive," Fetrow stated. "After Akron, I find myself thinking about our seniors. You always remember your last home game. For them to walk away with a 5-0 defeat is not the memory I wanted for them. I want them to finish their Villanova career with a win.
"At the end of the day, all of us associated with the program want a Big East win this season. We are good enough to have that moment. We need to prove to ourselves that we can go out and beat a Big East team this year. What a better opportunity to do this for the seniors, to send them out on a high note."
The Pirates (6-4-6 overall, 3-2-2 BIG EAST) still hope to secure one of the four spots in the BIG EAST Tournament in Maryland next week. The Hall needs a win and some help to leap past UConn (11 points) into second place in the East Division. (Georgetown has secured the BIG EAST regular season title while the remaining berths will be determined by results Friday night. The Hoyas meet the Huskies Friday).
Fetrow has given much thought to the challenges that set the Wildcats back in October.
"I think it's a combination of factors," Fetrow said. "We haven't done the simple things as well as we did earlier. That's led to a lot of turnovers and transition moments. Our box defending wasn't as clean as it was at the start of the season. The communication wasn't as good. Those are things we try to harp on daily, but they have dropped. We need to get back to the fundamentals."
Being without a host of rotation regulars due to physical setbacks has contributed to the circumstances too.
"It's unfortunate," stated Fetrow. "Injuries aren't something we will use as an excuse. But it is a reality we have faced. Guys on the back line are used to certain pairings. When that changes, communication changes. I think that's affected us.
"We must control the things we can control. We've got to put out better performances."
Fetrow is hopeful that the knowledge that this may be the final game in the Blue and White for graduating seniors such as Javon Daniels, Josh Oladele and Mikhail Zaretser will add an extra bit of incentive Friday night.
"The guys are motivated and working hard," said Fetrow. "They want to end the season with a high. If the sole focus is to get better every day – and it is – then this is another great opportunity to challenge ourselves against a good Seton Hall team."
ESPN+ will carry the live stream from South Orange, N.J. at 7 p.m.
