Sept. 12, 2003

Box Score

Philadelphia, Pa. - Junior Jonathan Lopuski (Montville, N.J.) deposited a shot into the Princeton net in the seventh minute and Villanova (2-3 overall, 0-2 Big East) made the goal stand up as it posted a 1-0 victory over the Tigers (0-1 overall, 0-0 Ivy League) in the opening game of the Penn/Kappa Soccer Classic on Friday afternoon.

Villanova broke quickly from the gate despite the noon start. Senior Dan Massimini (Downingtown, Pa.) won a ball from a Tiger defender and sent a shot towards the Princeton net. The rebound was collected by Wildcat freshman Marcelo Rodriguez (West Orange, N.J.) who tapped a short pass to an open Lopuski. Lopuski took advantage, sending a shot past goalie Erik White at 6:48.

The 'Cats nearly added to their lead in the first half when Massimini beat a Tiger defender and sent a low shot towards an open corner of the net. However, the ball rolled just wide in the 23rd minute. Princeton's best opportunity of the first period came in the 35th minute when Villanova goalkeeper Craig Bald was forced to make a difficult save on Kyle McHugh's header.

McHugh nearly evened the score in the 48th minute on another header but this one sailed over the Villanova goal. Rodriguez authored the Wildcats' best second half chance when he remained on sides for a long ball and just missed tucking a shot inside the left post.

Bald (Edgewater, Md.) posted his first collegiate shutout.

"We hung in there," said Villanova head coach Larry Sullivan. "I think we turned a corner defensively."

Villanova returns here to the University of Pennsylvania on Sunday for the final game of the Classic against host Pennsylvania. That game gets underway at 2:30 p.m.