Villanova’s fall schedule includes four tourney teams

Villanova will face four teams that made the NCAA tournament in 2015, including quarterfinalist Creighton on their 18-game schedule this fall.

The Wildcats open their season on August 28 hosting reigning Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champions Rider at 4 p.m.

Their home slate includes other area teams in Penn on October 19 at 4 p.m. and Princeton on September 28 at 4 p.m. and Big East rivals Butler on September 17 at 1 p.m., DePaul on October 1 at 1 p.m., Creighton on October 22, St. John's on October 26 at 3 p.m. and Seton Hall on November 3 at 3 p.m.

Nova will travel to face ACC tournament team Boston College and Harvard for games on September 2 and 4 and visit area teams Delaware on September 11, Saint Joseph’s on September 20 and Temple on October 4.

Road games include Marquette on September 24, Providence on October 8, Xavier on October 15 and last year's Big East champions Georgetown on October 29 in Washington D.C.

"We are very excited about our 2016 schedule," head coach Tom Carlin said in a news release. "It is highlighted by four 2015 NCAA Tournament teams, six 2015 Top 50 final RPI teams (4 Big East, 1 ACC, 1 Ivy), and three Philadelphia Soccer 6 rivalry games."

The Wildcats finished 9-8 in 2015, narrowly missing out on the Big East tournament. A highly-ranked recruiting class that includes Philadelphia Union Academy duo and twin brothers Shane Bradley and Conor Bradley is, however, on its way.

Just recently, Villanova received votes for breakout team of the year in TopDrawerSoccer.com's Division 1 coaches survey, and incoming freshman Nikkye De Point received votes for best newcomer.