Villanova evens record at 2-2 after win over Navy

Villanova kept the momentum going from the upset of Boston College over the weekend with a 2-1 win over Navy on Thursday at Higgins Soccer Complex.

Philadelphia Union Academy grad Zach Zandi set up John Jlopleh for a goal early in the first half and Padraic McCullaugh and Lucas Hodges connected early in the second half to give the Wildcats all the offense they needed to outlast the Midshipmen.

The goal was the second of the season for Hodges while Jlopleh picked up his first and Zandi and McCullaugh registered their first assists of the season.

Daniel Kwon headed home a goal for Navy in the 83rd minute off an assist from Elijah Kilmer to make the final seven minutes interesting, but goalkeeper Will Steiner and the back line anchored by freshmen Nikkye DePointe and Union Academy grad Shane Bradley held off the late rally.

Steiner made a key intervention when he jumped up and won a ball served in the box off a corner kick with five seconds left. He had two saves for the game while Navy keeper Mac Burke came up with seven for the Midshipmen.

Villanova travels to Newark, Delaware on Sunday to face the No. 22 Blue Hens at 3 p.m. Navy is away at George Washington before returning to the area for games against Saint Joseph’s on September 17 and the Army-Navy Cup at Talen Energy Stadium on September 23.