VILLANOVA, Pa. – After allowing its first goal of the season, Villanova used an 80
th minute goal to down Delaware, 2-1, on Thursday afternoon at Higgins Soccer Complex.
Villanova (5-0-2) remains unbeaten on the year, matching its most nonconference wins in the
Samar Azem area with one game left before moving into conference action. The 'Cats went through the nonconference slate with a 5-3 record a year ago.
Delaware (4-2-3) became the first team to score on the Wildcats this year with an equalizer in the 74
th minute. That goal snapped the Blue and White shutout streak at 613:10 through the start of the 2026 season and 711:02 of game time that stretches back to the 2025 campaign.
"I loved watching our team play today," head coach
Samar Azem said. "You know, coming off of last week, honestly the last couple weeks, we knew we had to sharpen some things up and our players did a phenomenal job of not just sharpening things up; they took it to another level."
The Blue Hens narrowly led shots in the first half at 4-3 with three coming off the foot of Gabby Riley through a scoreless opening period. Villanova's best chance in that stretch came from early from
Kaydee Amorosa in the fifth minute but her chance was saved by Delaware's Sophia Hall.
The Wildcats thought they had a breakthrough in the 57
th minute as
Morgan Kotch sent a quick look deep inside the box that hit the back of the net. After a video review, the goal was called off, keeping the match level at zero.
It was Amorosa who finally ended the scoreless battle with an absolute rocket in the 72
nd minute.
Sophia Miller made a short pass to
Dez Zapata who sent another short look to Amorosa. The sophomore midfielder booted a rocket from over 20 yards out that sailed over the outstretched hands of Hall and into the upper 90 to give Villanova a 1-0 lead.
The goal is the third of the year for Amorosa while Zapata moves to a team-high four assists on the year.
Delaware needed just two minutes to erase Villanova's shutout streak.
Maggie Groh pushed a long pass toward the box to find Taisiya Reed near the top of it. She raced in and nudged the ball sideways for a darting Adiat Olaogun-Dickson to pick up and immediately fire past a diving
Hannah Dickinson to knot the match, 1-1.
The goal marked the first allowed by Villanova since an 83
rd minute goal from Providence back on October 25, 2025.
Amalia Cardo put the game away in the 80
th minute.
Delaware's defense knocked the ball away from
Ryley Dixon but
Meghan White was able to gain possession of the open ball. She booted a strong service into the box that went toward Cardo who flicked the ball in the air from near the penalty spot and into the back right side of the net for a 2-1 lead.
That goal became the first game-winner of the redshirt sophomore's career and was her third goal of the season.
Villanova ended up leading shots 9-8 in the win, 4-2 for shots on goal. Amorosa led the 'Cats with three chances, two of those on frame. Dickinson made just one save as she moves to 5-0-2 on the year. On the other end of the pitch, Hall grabbed two saves.
The nonconference schedule comes to a close on Sunday for the Wildcats as they host Princeton for Senior Day. Action is slated to get underway inside Higgins at 4 p.m.
