On Saturday, Nov. 2, Villanova men’s soccer played its final game of the 2024 campaign, falling to Seton Hall 1-0.
The loss brings Villanova’s final record to 1-10-6 and 0-7-1 in the Big East.
In the past two seasons, the Wildcats have won just two games, but the 2024 season was always going to be one of transition.
For 16 seasons, former head coach Tom Carlin led the program and had unprecedented success.
This success included becoming the winningest coach in program history and leading the ‘Cats to the first NCAA tournament win in school history.
When Carlin retired in November of 2023, it was unexpected, but as the former associate head coach it was always expected that current head coach Mark Fetrow would one day lead the Wildcat program.
Fetrow’s first season was an underwhelming start to life in the Big East. The Wildcats only victory was a 3-2 win against Columbia on October 8th, but they failed to record a single win in conference play.
Following Saturday’s game against Seton Hall, Fetrow praised his team for never giving up during a difficult season.
“Our guys have no quit in them,” Fetrow said. “They never give up on anything and they fight to the end. As hard as things got throughout the year, I still felt like the team had the right attitude and I think that gonna really help these guys be successful in life whenever their done with athletics”
This season could have resulted in even more wins but luck was rarely in the Wildcats favor.
Missed opportunities that lead to goals from the opposition were frequent. Blowing 2-0 or 1-0 leads in the final minutes of a game were also frequent.
The game against Columbia was one just second before the last whistle.
Graduate midfielder Jorge Garcia’s goal off a free kick in the 89th minute resulted in the Wildcats only victory. Garcia’s goals came just five minutes after the Wildcats lost their 2-1 lead.
On the other hand, having a 2-0 lead against No.18 Georgetown and a 2-1 lead against No.19 Penn showed that when composed and when playing with confidence the 2024 Wildcats could compete with top tier competition.
“When we were up two goals [against Georgetown] we felt really proud,” Fetrow said. “I think that’s something we can look back on and see as a positive building block.”
Outside of a 3-0 loss to UConn, and a 5-1 loss to Western Michigan none of the other defeats were lopsided. In the other five losses the Wildcats were only defeated by a one or two goal deficit.
“We weren’t going out and playing teams that weren’t any good. We were playing teams that are gonna compete in the NCAA tournament and conference tournaments” Fetrow said. “I think we started playing our best brand of football as the year went on.”
Despite countless moments of frustration, disappointment and last minute heartbreak, there were also plenty of memorable moments.
Whether it was the breakout season of senior midfielder Jordan Canica, the welcomed addition of freshman midfielder/forward, Karson Vasquez, or a left footed banger from Michale teDuits against his former team [Penn] this season had moments and players that will be remembered for a long time.
In just his lone season with the Wildcats, graduate midfielder Jason Bouregy finished the year with four goals, eight assists and left a lasting impact on the program.
“It’s always hard when you’re coming in as a grad school transfer, especially with just one season of eligibility,” Fetrow said. “Jason was very clear with what he wanted to get out of the season which was to compete for a Big East championship but he also wants to go be a pro. I would imagine he’s gonna get some accolades in the Big East so it’s gonna be hard to replace him.”
This season also marked the end of several other Wildcat careers. Garcia’s time as a Wildcat is now over and the same is true from graduate defender Brandon John’s, senior forward Vincent Petrera, senior defender Tommy Johnson and senior defender/midfielder Kyle Dixon.
There will always be movement in the off-season, some expected, some unexpected, but each player from the 2024 roster has played a role in helping grow the program and will have a lasting impact on the school as a whole.
There are also a number of players returning such as Canica, Vasquez, and freshman defender Luke Haggerty. Haggerty and Vazquez have now gained significant experience playing college soccer and will now look to help Canica lead the team in 2025.
“Luke Haggerty had a really good year as a freshman and was consistently a 90 minute guy for us,” Fetrow said. “Karson Vasquez has done a really good job coming in and out of the games and trying to make an impact. I’m just really looking forward to seeing a lot of these young guys grow older, get more opportunities and develop into even better players”
The future of this program is bright. Despite a winless season in conference play, this team showed moments of brilliance and maintained a hunger and determination that kept them in a number of difficult games.
The offseason will be a busy time for Fetrow and his staff. Today’s landscape means coaches are always planning ahead for the next team, the next game, and the next season. Fetrow will not only be hard at work replacing the losses of Bourgey and Garcia but he and his staff will also look to develop their current pool of players and strengthen their squad into a team that can compete in and out of the Big East.
