Sept. 9, 2001

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Senior David Castellanos (Philadelphia, Pa.) scored at the 112:42 mark of the second overtime to lift the defending NCAA champion University of Connecticut Huskies (3-1-1) to a 2-1 victory over the Villanova Wildcats (0-3-0 overall, 0-2-0 Big East) here on Sunday.

The Wildcats got an early jump on the Huskies when freshman forward Jonathan Lopuski (Moutville Township, N.J.) recorded his first collegiate goal at the 13:26 mark of the first half. Junior Joe Caruolo (Berwyn, Pa.) headed the ball to Lopuski whose 18-yard blast from near the top of the box beat Connecticut goalkeeper Bryheem Hancock.

Connecticut responded quickly, however. Senior Sam Forko fed sophomore Cesar Cuellar and Cuellar drilled a shot above the outstretched arm of Wildcat goalie Sean Teesdale (Blue Bell, Pa.). The tally came at the 21-minute mark of the first half. The game remained tied at intermission.

The Huskies had the better scoring chances in the second half. Connecticut bounced one shot off the goalpost and another off the crossbar. But strong work from Teesdale and Villanova defenders David Jones (London, England) and Stephen Leaman (Lancaster, Pa.) helped keep the game scoreless at the end of regulation.

There were few quality scoring chances in the two overtimes until Castellano took a perfect feed from Mordocco and then finished it with authority.

Both teams suffered injuries on this warm afternoon. Connecticut's Anthony Curtis was forced to leave the game in the second half but did return. Villanova's Colin Raws (Malvern, Pa.) injured his right leg in the second half and was unable to return.

The Wildcats return to action on Wednesday at La Salle.