Sept. 28, 2008

Final Stats

VILLANOVA, Pa. - The Villanova Wildcats and Georgetown Hoyas battled to a 0-0 tie in a BIG EAST men's soccer game here on Sunday afternoon. Weather was the major story, especially in the second half, when a torrential downpour slowed play and forced officials to halt the contest at the end of regulation rather than conducting the customary overtime sessions.

Villanova is now 4-3-2 overall, 1-1-2 in the BIG EAST, while the Hoyas are 7-2-1 overall, 2-2-1 in the BIG EAST.

The contest actually began without rain falling, though the turf was soaked from rains during the opening half of a soccer doubleheader here (the Villanova women's squad defeated Seton Hall 1-0 earlier in the day). Both goalkeepers were sharp, however. Freshman Anthony Yeboah (Portland, Me./Deering High School) had a quality chance in the 16th minute as did senior Miles Harrison (Louisville, Ky./Ballard High School) in the 18th minute. But Hoyas goalkeeper Matthew Brutto was equal to the challenge in both situations.

Georgetown's best scoring chance in the first half came off the toe of Scott Larrabee but Villanova goalie Chris Bresnhan (McLean, Va./Gonzaga High School) made the save.

After the sun had poked through in the early moments of the half, rain began to fall near its end as dark clouds approached the Soccer Complex. It was a portent of things to come.

Villanova owned a 10-7 edge in first half shots.

As the intensity of the rain picked up in the second half, so did the scoring chances. Footing was treacherous as puddles of water began to form across the field. Each team came close to scoring, though. Georgetown's Robert Burnett sent a blast from 24 yards out that Bresnahan had to leap to get a hand on and knock over the crossbar..

The Wildcats created a couple of their own prime scoring chances. Sophomore Brent Hooper (Bel Air, Md./Archbishop Curley High School) ended the day with four shots, including two on goal that nearly found the back of the net.

Over the final 15 minutes, the rain was so heavy that both teams struggled to advance the ball with any cohesion. When the horn sounded to end regulation, the officials huddled with both coaches and the decision was made to half the game with no further play.

Bresnahan made seven saves in posting his fifth shutout of his freshman campaign while Brutto made eight saves in net for the Hoyas.

Next up for Villanova is a Philadelphia Soccer Seven road date at Penn this Wednesday at 5:00 p.m.