Starting Strong: The Wildcats went unbeaten through the nonconference schedule at 5-0-3. That is a feat the program has only seen five previous times since joining the BIG EAST in 1995: 2023, 3-0-5; 2009, 7-0-1; 2007, 6-0-2; 2006, 8-0; 2002, 9-0-3.

Spreading the Wealth: Villanova's offense has racked up 79 points this season from 18 players on 26 goals and 27 assists. Of those point scorers, 10 have registered both a goal and an assist.

Check the Stats: The Wildcat offense continues to be a stout one in the league, leading the BIG EAST with 79 points, 26 goals and 27 assists, numbers that are 17th, 19th and 13th in the nation, respectively. They have a league-high 3.38 assists per game that are eighth in the nation. On the other end of the pitch, Villanova's defense has been just as strong with a .250 goals-against average that is fourth nationally. Its six shutouts this season are first in the BIG EAST and ninth nationally.

• The overall series with St. John's has been a close one with Villanova holding a slim 15-14-5 in the last 34 meetings. When hosting the Red Storm, Villanova is 8-4-2 overall.
• Villanova was victorious in the last meeting between the two sides, leaving Queens with a 1-0 win on Oct. 11, 2025 for it's first win at St. John's in 25 years. The Wildcats outshot the Johnnies 22-2 with Alex Little netting the game-winner in the 12th minute.
• The victory snapped a 10-match losing streak for Villanova when visiting St. John's that dated back to Sept. 10, 2000. It was also just the second time the 'Cats had defeated the Johnnies since 2011, going just 2-11-3 in that span with both wins coming with Samar Azem at the helm of the Wildcat program. Before 2022, the last win for Nova in the series was back in 2008.
• The 'Cats are unbeaten in the last two times they've hosted the series. They drew with St. John's, 2-2, on Oct. 13, 2024 and won 1-0 on Oct. 2, 2022. The last time St.. John's left the Main Line with a win was Oct. 24, 2019 when the Red Storm took an overtime victory, 4-3.

• Saturday is also the BIG EAST lidlifter for St. John's who went 3-4-1 through the nonconference slate with an even 7-7 scoring output against its opponents. The Red Storm's nonconference finale resulted in a 1-0 loss against Penn on September 19.
• St. John's is 1-2-1 this season when playing on the road. Its last road contest resulted in a 1-0 loss at Monmouth on September 3.
• The Red Storm's defense is third in the BIG EAST for saves per game heading into the week with a 3.38 clip. Graduate netminder Kayla Bower has anchored the group through eight starts and 708 minutes of action between the posts. She has allowed seven goals with 27 saves to be 3-4-1 with three shutouts.
• Seven different Johnnies have scored a goal each this season while Nora Basile has led a majority of the offense with a team-high three points on a goal and an assist, also leading the team with 16 shots and six on goal. The junior forward has had at least one shot in each of the last five games.

Villanova 1, Princeton 1 | September 20, 2026 - Villanova, Pa. - Higgins Soccer Complex
 

Villanova closed out its nonconference slate by solidifying an unbeaten start to the year with a 1-1 draw against Princeton. The Wildcats allowed just their second goal of the season in the result. Princeton needed just 10 and a half minutes to get on the board. Stella Monberg played a long ball in from midfield that Dylan Jovanovic corralled to take toward the penalty box. She sent a chance through two Wildcat defenders and past a diving Hannah Dickinson for a 1-0 lead. In the 42nd minute, Villanova found the break it needed that started with a strong steal from Isabelle Chukwu at midfield. The junior forward sent the ball ahead to a wide open Dez Zapata who made her way into the penalty area and rocketed a chance toward the net that Cerone couldn't get a hand on, leveling the match at 1-1. Sophia Miller tried to give Villanova its first lead on a dead-on shot from the top of the box. Her shot went toward an outstretched Sydney Romano who entered in goal for the Tigers in the second half but hit off the crossbar before falling on the ball to stop a redirect near the post. Villanova and Princeton each had 11 shots on the day with shots on goal leaning in favor of the Blue and White at 4-2. Kotch led all players with four attempts, two of those on frame. Jovanovic led Princeton with three attempts, one on frame.

Read the full recap here.