Villanova secured its first berth in the BIG EAST Tournament since 2019 following a complete team effort resulting in an 11th shutout of the season, a 3-0 victory over DePaul at Higgins Soccer Complex on Wednesday night.
Wildcats Clinch Postseason Berth and Historic Win
- Villanova improved to 10-1-5 overall and 5-1-2 in conference play, clinching a spot in the BIG EAST Tournament alongside other league results.
- The milestone marks the program’s first 10-win season since 2019.
- Morgan Kotch and Dez Zapata drove the offense with a goal and an assist each, extending an unbeaten streak against DePaul to three straight matches.
Early Scoring Frenzy Sets the Tone
Villanova wasted little time establishing control on the pitch. In the eighth minute, Dez Zapata battled two defenders near the corner before slipping a pass into the 18-yard box. Morgan Kotch met the ball just outside the right post, punching in a quick right-footed boot past Mason Hillery to grab a 1-0 advantage.
After limping into the Big East tournament having lost two straight home games–both by double-digits–to Villanova and Butler, the DePaul Blue Demons will head to the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden looking to hit the reset button… https://t.co/10SCektxaT
Just two minutes later, the roles reversed. Kotch touched a quick pass to Gabby Koluch, who immediately fed a darting Zapata near the top of the box. Zapata fired a shot toward the back left corner to double the lead to 2-0, marking her sixth goal of the season.
It was very important for the players to see what they are capable of,
head coach Samar Azem stated following the match, noting that the team learned valuable lessons from a previous outing against Butler.
Defensive Wall and the Dagger Goal
DePaul attempted to mount a response near the 30th and 31st minutes. Meredith Palmer delivered a crucial block for the Wildcats, immediately followed by a save near the left post from Hannah Dickinson against a shot by Dory Latenser to preserve the clean sheet.
The Wildcats applied relentless pressure, outshooting DePaul 15-6 overall and 7-2 in shots on frame. Amalia Cardo delivered the dagger in the 66th minute. Ambyr Baker launched a deep throw into the box toward Kotch, whose challenge redirected off a defender. Cardo charged in on the loose ball to send a one-timer past the DePaul defense, sealing the 3-0 final score.
| Statistic | Villanova | DePaul |
|---|---|---|
| Shots | 15 | 6 |
| Shots on Goal | 7 | 2 |
| Saves | 2 | N/A |
| Record | 10-1-5 (5-1-2) | 4-6-6 (1-4-3) |
Milestone Shutout for Dickinson
Goalkeeper Hannah Dickinson needed just two saves to secure her ninth shutout of the campaign. The performance brings her career total to 23 shutouts, giving her sole possession of third-most in program history. Villanova’s defense held DePaul completely silent in the second half, allowing zero shots on goal after the break.
The Wildcats now turn their focus to the road, traveling to take on Marquette this Saturday at 2 p.m. as they prepare for their return to the BIG EAST postseason.
