Villanova Women’s Soccer Falls to Providence in Late-Game Heartbreaker

Villanova’s hopes for a top-four finish in the BIG EAST Championship took a hit yesterday as the Wildcats lost a hard-fought 2-1 match to Providence at Higgins Soccer Complex.

Despite equalizing in the 81st minute through a goal from Dez Zapata, her second of the season, Villanova conceded a late goal to Lily Gibbs of Providence in the 83rd minute, sealing the Wildcats’ fate. Gibbs scored both goals for Providence, the first in the 9th minute after a cross deflected off a Villanova player. Villanova Head Coach Samar Azem described the game as a “tale of two halves,” adding, “something that we’ve learned the hard way today is how to understand that this is basically the playoffs.”

The Wildcats battled back from a first-half deficit where they were outshot 12-4, with Hannah Curtin and Morgan Kotch having opportunities denied by Providence goalkeeper Ellie Thallman. Zapata’s equalizer came after a well-placed pass from Kotch, but the momentum was short-lived. The loss underscores the increased competition within the BIG EAST, which has reduced its championship field to four teams this year, making each game crucial for postseason contention. Villanova’s Alex Little led the team with three shots, while Thallman recorded seven saves for Providence. You can find more information about NCAA Women’s Soccer on the official NCAA website.

Villanova (9-8, 4-5 BIG EAST) will conclude their regular season on November 1st with a home game against Butler on Alumni Day, with the match scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Azem emphasized the need for the team to avoid letting the pressure of crucial games affect their performance, stating they “made this moment too big.” For more information on Villanova Athletics, visit their official website.