Aug. 30, 2006

Final Stats

Aug. 30, 2006

PHILADELPHIA - Victor Faustino scored with 1:17 to play in the first overtime period to lift Villanova to a 2-1 win over Saint Joseph's in Soccer Seven action at Finnesey Field. The Wildcats improve to 3-0 while the Hawks drop to 0-3.

Danny DeMasters set up the winning goal when he dribbled into the box and sent a short cross to Faustino who one-timed it into the lower left corner. DeMasters, still recovering from a pre-season foot injury, was inserted for the first time at the start of the overtime period by head coach Larry Sullivan.

"Danny was the difference for us in overtime," stated Sullivan. "I put him in because we needed something at that point and he gave it to us. This is the start of a tough stretch for us and it was important to get this win."

The teams battled through a scoreless first half, with Villanova striking first in the second half. Dan McKenna headed in a ball at 53:24, which was set up by Mike DelGuercio and Adam Brazitis. It was McKenna's second goal of the campaign.

Saint Joseph's tied it up at 72:47 as senior Dean Niedosik scored his team-high second goal of the season, volleying a pass from freshman Matteo Chiappini.

Freshman Joe Bodnar made three saves in goal for SJU while Jason Friel and John Ward shared goalkeeping duties for the Wildcats. Friel made two saves and held the Hawks scoreless before giving way to Ward midway through the second half.

"Considering everything, this was a good win for us," stated Sullivan. "It took us time to adjust to this (artificial) surface. It's such a different game than the one we're used to playing. But I thought we hung in there and adjusted in the second half."

This was the first of six consecutive games to be played away from Villanova's home at the West campus Soccer Complex. On Thursday, the 'Cats journey to Rhode Island, where they will face the University of Rhode Island Rams on Friday at 7:00 p.m. They will then meet Harvard at URI on Sunday at noon.