Sept. 28, 2011

Box Score

Philadelphia, Pa. - The Saint Joseph's men's soccer team lost 3-0 to a well composed Villanova Wildcat team Wednesday night. The three goals were enough to put away the Hawks as they lost to their cross city rival Villanova.

The wildcats came out ready to play and set the tempo of the game early on in the first half. They won nearly all of the 50/50 balls in the first 20 minutes of play as they were able to catch the Hawks on their heels. The first goal came 7:22 into the first half when Aaron Dennis lifted a ball from the left side of the net to the right over Andrew D'Ottavi's head.

The second goal came at 19:37 off of a free kick about 25 yards out. Kyle Soroka bended the free kick from the left side to the right side of the net.

"We let Villanova come out and set the tempo which allowed them to get us on our heels and eventually come away with two goals in the first half," said head coach Don D'Ambra.

The second half was better for the Hawks after a fiery speech from Coach D'Ambra.

"They came out with more effort and intensity in the second half. We started to get opportunities from winning the 50/50 balls, high pressing, and playing more solid defensively," said D'Ambra.

The energy and sense of urgency the Hawks brought the second half kept them in the game and allowed them to battle. It was not until 74:57 in the second half when Emerson Lawrence netted the final goal of the game after getting the ball behind the keeper.

The men will attempt to change their luck when they return to action on Sunday as they travel to New York to play a gritty Hartwick team. The game time is set for 2:00 pm.