At age 25, Bar Netanel knows the score.
"I'm the oldest guy on the team," he says with a smile. "My teammates sometimes tell me I'm old."
A graduate transfer enrolled in Villanova's School of Business; Netanel is in a unique place – older by calendar years but new to America and collegiate soccer. Yet he has provided important ingredients to a Wildcats side that brings a 3-1-1 overall record into a match Sunday afternoon against George Washington (3-1-1) at the Higgins Soccer Complex (3 p.m./ESPN+).
Netanel has logged heavy minutes at left back for the Wildcats in the early going and become a key initiator with his ability to serve the ball on corner and free kicks. As a seasoned veteran with a track record that includes five years with Maccabi Tel Aviv and stints in soccer leagues in his native Israel, Netanel offers a perspective not always available to what is a Nova roster dominated by college juniors and sophomores.
"What I have done from the minute since I got here is to try to support the younger guys and even some of the seniors from my experience," Netanel states. "Sometimes we play as a young team. In games and in training I try to remind them to relax and be patient. I enjoy that part of it."
Over the course of his career, Netanel has endured highs and lows. There were a pair of torn ACL's – one in each knee – and other smaller setbacks. An initial plan to enroll at Virginia Tech last year didn't pan out. Yet through it all Netanel has maintained a love for the sport that was honed by a soccer loving clan in Modin, Isreal.
"It is," he notes, "a long story."
The early chapters of the tale were marked by a steady rise. After taking up the game at age five, Netanel had developed to the point where perhaps the foremost sports academy in the nation, Maccabi Tel Aviv, expressed an interest in him joining its youth program at age 13.
"My whole family," Netanel says, "is very big fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv. My mom (Tali), dad (Shlomo), grandparents, uncles, cousins – everyone was so excited when I got to be a part of it.
"As a player, the biggest thing for me was the high standards there. The system was very clear – how we wanted to move the ball, how we wanted to press, how we were organized. You had to be working as hard as you can."
During his time in Tel Aviv, Netanel had opportunities to represent Israel on its U16 and U17 teams at tournaments in Europe. But during his age 17 season, Netanel tore the ligament in his right knee. The timing on the eve of a prospective start to a professional career was less than ideal. Once recovered, he played in Israel's first and second divisions, enjoying success at his natural left back position.
In training ahead of the season after landing with a new club, Netanel tore the ACL in his left knee. That cost him a full season, though he was able to complete his bachelor's degree in Sports & Education at a respected Israeli college (athletics and college are mostly separate entities there).
By the time he completed the rehab process on the left knee, Netanel found himself in a challenging place. Now in his early 20s, the teams in the area had moved on to a new generation of rising players.
"The clubs don't wait for you," he says.
At that point, Netanel began to contemplate coming to the United States. In doing so, he could enhance his profile on the field and off it while he pursued a master's degree. Friends of his in Isreal had followed a similar path.
"I heard that it was the best way to combine high-level soccer and academics," Netanel states.
Originally, Netanel had his sights set on Virginia Tech but, "it didn't really work out there." As he searched for a new home as a transfer, he reached out to Villanova head coach Mark Fetrow and associate head coach Alex Balog.
"I spoke with other universities," he states, "but the conversations I had with Coach Fetrow and Coach Balog were the best conversations I had. We had a special connection, and I knew that Villanova had a great reputation academically. It was a long process to get here, but I'm happy we overcame the obstacles."
The transition has gone smoothly for the most part. FaceTime conversations with his parents and girlfriend of five years Li-on help bridge the distance.
"They have always been so supportive of me," he states. "I try to stay in touch as much as I can although it's hard at times with Israel being seven hours ahead of our time here."
Now, as the most soccer seasoned member of a Wildcats side looking to move up in the BIG EAST – regular season play begins next week at St. John's – Netanel likes what he sees from a defense that has only surrendered two goals in five games.
"We defend well," says Netanel. "We have the work ethic and the right attitude. We've succeeded defensively. But on the other end, we have to improve with the ball and create more chances so that we are less reliant on set pieces. We talk about it in our meetings and training.
"The ability and work rate is there. We've got to keep working hard to create more attacking chances."
Colonials Come Calling
George Washington is 3-0-1 over its last four outings, most recently playing Drexel to a 1-1 draw Wednesday night at home in the District of Columbia. A familiar face to Wildcat fans, 2026 graduate Foday Bangura, is now a Colonials graduate transfer who has started three of the four games he has appeared in.
This is the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
