Oct. 2, 2003

By Mike Sheridan, VU Media Relations

Redemption often comes at its own pace. Years can pass before an athlete has the opportunity to reverse a play that went awry.

Seldom does it arrive in just 48 hours.

Yet it did recently for Villanova senior midfielder Dan Massimini.

On Sept. 28 in a game at the University of Pittsburgh, Villanova earned its first penalty kick of the 2003 campaign. Head coach Larry Sullivan turned to Massimini, a senior tri-captain, to take the kick. Massimini's blast missed.

Fortunately for Massimini, Villanova held on for a 3-2 victory over the Panthers. Yet the misfire wasn't easily dismissed by the management major. He had yet to score a goal for the Wildcats this season, despite amassing nine shots.

Two days later, the 'Cats were back in action on their home turf against Philadelphia Soccer Seven rival Saint Joseph's. Massimini's scoring drought ended in the first half when he converted a nice cross from classmate Scott Rodemer into a first half goal. Yet the 1-0 margin felt tenuous even though Villanova was clearly dominating play.

With 22:06 left on the second half clock, a Hawk defender dragged down junior Jonathan Lopuski in the box. Villanova was awarded a penalty kick. Head coach Larry Sullivan had the option of selecting any Wildcat in the game at that point.

"I didn't even think about it," Sullivan says.

Sullivan approached Massimini.

"You want it?" the coach asked.

"I'll take it," came the reply.

"Take it," stated Sullivan.

Massimini calmly placed the ball at the top of the box and waited for the official's whistle to blow. When it did, he sent a low shot into the left corner of the net, past the outstretched arm of Hawks goalkeeper Kevin Dougher. It gave Villanova plenty of breathing room as it put away its third consecutive victory and sixth of the season, one more than it enjoyed in all of 2001 or 2002.

"I appreciate that Coach let me take that penalty kick," states Massimini. "After I missed the one at Pittsburgh it showed that he has a lot of confidence in me."

Sullivan never really hesitated.

"Danny is a good player and also a senior team captain," he says. "We need him to be able to overcome setbacks like the one at Pittsburgh. We need him to make penalty kicks for us right now.

"He accepted the challenge and responded. That's exactly the kind of thing you need from seniors if you are going to be successful."

Massimini's path to Villanova was direct. As a youngster growing up in nearby Downingtown with his parents Dan and Susan and two older sisters, he had begun playing soccer at the age of six and soon gravitated to that sport. By the time he reached Downingtown High School, Massimini's athletic focus was on soccer and basketball. He played both at the varsity level and enjoyed each. Yet Massimini's physical tools - great quickness, speed but modest size - made soccer the best fit.

It didn't hurt that Downingtown's boasted an exceptional soccer program. During Massimini's junior season there were a total of 16 athletes who would go on to play Division I soccer on the roster and that translated into tremendous on-field accomplishment.

When it came time to study his collegiate options, Massimini had an instant favorite.

"I always wanted to go to Villanova," he says. "I live about 30 minutes away from here so it meant that my family would be able to see me play. I thought I had a chance to come in and contribute as a freshman and the academics are great. This was where I wanted to be."

Although he briefly considered Lafayette and Penn State, it didn't take much for Sullivan to convince Massimini that Villanova was the right situation for him.

It didn't take long for Massimini to make his mark. The Wildcats were attempting to rebound from a 2-14 campaign and Sullivan leaned hard on a crop of freshmen that included Massimini, Rodemer, Colin Raws, Chris Edgar and Jonathan Greene. Massimini started 14 games as a rookie, contributing three goals, two assists and eight points for a squad that finished 6-9-2.

"College soccer is a much more physical brand of soccer than what I was used to in high school or playing with (club team) FC Delco," says Massimini. "It took me a little time to get used to it."

In fact, it was not uncommon to see opponents do their best to neutralize Massimini's quickness and passing skill by quite literally knocking him off the ball. Massimini tasted his share of Big East turf as an underclassman.

"Early in his career Danny had a couple of injuries because he wasn't sure how to handle that kind of pressure," states Sullivan. "But he learned from those. He figured out that the best way to neutralize aggression is with smart play. Now he goes right at guys who try to use that tactic."

Massimini helped lead FC Delco to a national club championship in 2001 but the rewards weren't nearly as plentiful at Villanova. The Wildcats were damaged by injuries in both 2001 and 2002 and ended the season at 5-13.

However, 2003 has been an entirely different story. After dropping three one goal games early, Villanova has rebounded and is 5-1-1 over its last seven heading into an important Big East match at the University of Connecticut on Oct. 4.

"This year we are more talented than we have ever been in my time here," says Massimini, who has started all 11 games for the Wildcats in 2003. "Everybody has jelled and (assistant coach) Alan Mezger has helped us incorporate a new system that really works for us."

As much fun as the second half of September was, the Wildcats understand that heavy lifting remains. Of its final seven opponents, five are ranked in the Top 25. To reach the Big East Tournament for the first time since 1997, Villanova must keep its head above water in seas that promise to be choppy. The good news is that four of those contests will be played at home.

"We do have a tough stretch coming and that's going to be a challenge," says Massimini. "But we are confident in ourselves and reaching the tournament is very important to us, especially the seniors."

Sullivan plans to lean heavily on veterans like Massimini.

"If our team is going to be successful, we need our seniors to show us the way," says Sullivan. "They have to carry the burden of keeping us in the game on the road. When the game is deadlocked they have to know when to attack. We need them to bring their knowledge and experience to the field."

It is a gauntlet Massimini doesn't shy away from.

"It's a big responsibility," he says. "But I like making that commitment."

Leadership, we are told, comes in many forms. It can be shouted or whispered. Sometimes it comes in only a few words.

In Massimini's case there were only three.

"I'll take it."

By doing so, he opened the door to redemption and Villanova took another step forward on its road to resurgence.