VILLANOVA, Pa. – A return to conference play comes Saturday for the Villanova Wildcats when they travel to Cincinnati for a clash with Xavier. The BIG EAST match kicks off at 6:30 p.m. and will be live streamed on ESPN+.
The Wildcats (4-3-1 overall, 0-1 BIG EAST) hope to build on a stirring 4-2 win their last time out over Drexel at the Higgins Soccer Complex. The Musketeers bring a 5-0-2 overall mark into this battle, including 0-0-1 in conference play. Xavier posted a 6-0 win over Wright State on Tuesday night on its home pitch at Corcoran Field.
Through its seven games and the first half on Tuesday against the Dragons, Villanova was limited to seven total goals. That all changed in the second half in the rain on West Campus, as Nova exploded for four scores in the final 45 minutes.
"It wasn't a great first half for us," Fetrow said of Tuesday's contest. "We didn't create enough on our attack. We were not aggressive enough.
"Credit to the boys. They took in the information at halftime. They implemented it. They executed."
That redshirt junior Luke Martelli was in the middle the rally was no surprise. The 'Cats co-captain scored the second goal – his second of the season – and set up the third score, the first college goal by freshman Maximos Chrisafinas. Prior to that game he received the 2025-26 Sister Mary Margaret Cribben Award presented by Vice President and Director of Athletics Eric Roedl.
The award was established in 1985 to honor outstanding Student-athletes. The recipients of the Sister Cribben award are described as "the student-athletes who unselfishly sacrifice time, effort, body and soul to lead and motivate their teammates in excelling for Villanova University through inspiration."
"Luke is just such a great lead by example guy," Fetrow stated. "The Sister Mary Margaret Cribben Award just embodies what he is. He is a great leader for our program and embodies every core value that we have. He's disciplined, he's hardworking, and he's consistent. I think you're starting to see that in his production on the field."
This trip marks first flight to a road game thus far in 2026. Its previous two road matchups at Princeton and St. John's were both within driving distance.
"We're looking forward to getting on the road again," said Fetrow. "This will be our first road trip where we're spending some time in a hotel. That helps a team bond and connect. We want to attack this trip knowing we must deal with a high-quality opponent on its home field. We're excited to take on the challenge."
The Musketeers have surrendered just four goals in nine games – none in the first half. Xavier played Drexel to a 1-1 draw last weekend in Chicago in its only previous BIG EAST action.
Villanova relies on a balanced attack – 13 different Wildcats have registered at least one point thus far in 2026, led by Martelli's seven points. It has overcome substantial injury loss – stalwarts Lorenzo Avalos, Luca Mazzola, Bar Netanel, and Fynn Lahrsen were all sidelined against Drexel – as it approaches the midway point of the regular season.
This is the first meeting between the foes in opposite BIG EAST divisions since 2022. Xavier posted a 2-1 win at Villanova on Oct. 8, 2022, and leads the all-time series 5-3-1. The 'Cats last win in the series came in Cincinnati, a 1-0 triumph on Oct. 2, 2021.
