Nov. 4, 2009

Box Score

VILLANOVA, Pa. - The Providence College men's soccer team (9-6-3) erased a 1-0 halftime deficit and scored twice in the last 10:59 en route to a 2-1 victory at Villanova Wednesday afternoon in a BIG EAST Championship First Round match. Junior Matt Marcin (Wilmington, Del.) scored on a 35-yard volley with 2:45 remaining to lead the Friars who will play at Connecticut on Saturday, November 8 at 7:00 p.m. in the BIG EAST Quarterfinals. Villanova finished its season with a 9-8-2 mark.

With the score tied at 1-1 and overtime looming, freshman Marc Cintron (Piscataway, N.J.) played a pass to Marcin, who took the ball off his chest, turned and ripped a volley from 35 yards out into the upper left corner of the net with 2:45 left in the second half. It marked the fourth goal of the season for Marcin and the third game-winning strike. Providence was able to hold on to the lead and advance to the league quarterfinals for the fourth time in the last five years.

Junior Michael Pereira (London, Ontario) created PC's first scoring chance in the 18th minute when his shot from 30-yards out missed high. Villanova took a 1-0 lead in the 31st minute after the Friars were whistled for a foul 25-yards away from goal. Villanova defender Chris Christian took advantage as he curled a left-footed shot over Providence's six-man defensive wall and into the lower right corner of the net. The Friars had a chance to score the equalizer before the half time whistle as junior Toussaint McClure (Atlanta, Ga.) had a clean header off a corner kick, but his shot missed high.

The Friars carried the play early in the second half and nearly scored on a corner kick when junior Andrew Sousa (Fall River, Mass.) drove a cross and the ball took a few deflections, but a Villanova defender was able to clear it out near the goal line away for another corner kick. Seconds later, PC junior David Datilus (Linden, N.J.) played a long ball into the Villanova 18-yard box. Goalkeeper Chris Bresnahan came off his line, but could not handle the ball, leaving the net wide open. Marcin was able to control the ball, turn and chip a shot that was aimed at the right corner of the net, however, Christian was there to head the ball away. In the 70th minute, Christian had another direct free kick from 28 yards out and he was able to curl the ball over the wall, but PC goalkeeper Timothy Murray (Haverhill, Mass.) was there to make the save.

The Friars finally broke through with 10:59 left in the second half on a goal by Cintron. McClure played the ball down the left flank to sophomore John Raley (St. Inigoes, Md.). Raley then played a low cross, which eluded a Villanova defender and found Cintron who was all alone with Bresnahan from 10 yards out. Cintron put a touch on the ball before calmly tucking the ball into the left corner of net.