August 28, 1998

VILLANOVA, Pa. - The Villanova University men's soccer team will begin their season on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at 7:30 p.m. against the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights at the United German-Hungarian Club in Oakford, Pa. A home game for the Wildcats, the game was originally scheduled for Villanova University, but later moved to the German-Hungarian Club due to alterations being made to the Villanova Soccer Field.

Last season, head coach Larry Sullivan's Wildcats finished with a 6-9-5 overall record. In the Big East, however, Villanova earned a sixth place 4-4-3 Big East finish placing them in the Big East Conference Championships for the first time since 1993. Tallying his 50th career victory in his seventh season in 1997, Sullivan owns a 51-62-14 career mark on the Main Line and has led Villanova to the Conference Championships three times in his seven seasons.

The Wildcats will be led in 1998 by Big East Conference Rookie of the Year defender Jim Curtin. Curtin, a sophomore from Oreland, Pa., and Bishop McDevitt High School, Curtin was a key force on the Villanova defense last season helping hold opponents to 0.91 goals per game. On offense, the Wildcats will look to junior forward Donavan Hornsby. Transferring to Villanova prior to the 1997 season from Division II South Carolina Spartenburg, Hornsby led the Cats in both points (13) and goals (five).

One year ago against Rutgers, Villanova traveled to Piscataway on Sept. 17 and rallied to tie the No. 10 nationally ranked Scarlet Knights 1-1 on a late second half goal by Hornsby. Later on in the year, the Cats against faced Rutgers but this time fell in a hard fought 2-0 contest in the quarterfinals of the Big East Championships to drop their season record against the Knights to 0-1-1.

After facing the Scarlet Knights on Tuesday, Villanova will travel to Easton, Pa. to play the Lafayette College Leopards on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 2:00 p.m.