Men's Soccer Knocks Off Villanova, 3-0, In BIG EAST Championship First Round

Greg Davis scores winner; Matt Marcin strikes twice.

Freshman Greg Davis

Nov. 3, 2010

VILLANOVA, Pa. - The Providence College men's soccer team defeated Villanova, 3-0, on Wednesday, November 3 in a BIG EAST Championship First Round match played in Villanova, Pa. With the victory, Providence (10-5-2) advances to the quarterfinals where it will play BIG EAST Blue Division Champion Georgetown on Saturday, November 6 at 1:00 p.m. in Washington, D.C. Villanova ended its season at 8-8-3.

It marked the third consecutive season that the Friars and Wildcats met in the first round and the Friars have prevailed each time to advance to the quarterfinals. Freshman Greg Davis (Jamaica, N.Y.) scored late in the first half, while senior Matt Marcin (Wilmington, Del.) added two goals in the second half to lead the way for Providence, which is now unbeaten in its last six matches (5-0-1), including five consecutive victories.

"We played well," Head Coach Chaka Daley said. "It was a tough game. I don't think the score is really indicative of how tough of a game it was, but we are pleased to be moving on to the next round."

The Wildcats nearly took the lead in the 23rd minute Dylan Renna's strike from 25 yards hit the post, but the Friars responded and jumped ahead to 1-0 lead with 2:26 remaining before the halftime whistle as Davis netted his third goal of the season. Sophomore Wilder Arboleda (Pawtucket, R.I.) played a pass down the left side to Davis who chipped a shot over Villanova goalkeeper Chris Bresnahan.

Just 1:30 into the second half, Marcin gave the Friars a 2-0 lead when he scored the first of his two goals. Sophomore Marc Cintron (Piscataway, N.J.) beat his defender down the right flank and played a cross to Marcin who fired a left-footed shot into the left corner of the net. Marcin, who last season scored a stunning game winner at Villanova in the BIG EAST Championship First Round, sealed the victory in the 64th minute as he avoided several defenders before toe poking the ball into the net. Cintron also assisted on Marcin's second goal to match his career-high two assists.