Head coach: Tom Carlin

2011 Record: Big East 4–5–1 / Overall 8–9–4

New comers: Damilola Adetola (M), Sean Sheridan (M), Liam Callahan (D), Casey DeFluri (GK), Brandon Thompson (M)

Losses: Chris Christian (D), Kevin Garcia (D), Matt Margiotta (M)

Players to watch: Dylan Renna (F), Kyle Soroka (D), Aaron Dennis (F), Oscar Umar (M), John Fogarty (GK)

Home opener: Stony Brook on Aug. 28

Must-see matches: Penn on Sept. 14, La Salle on Sept. 20, Temple on Sept. 25, USF on Sept. 29, St. John’s on Oct. 3

The 2012 season mark’s Tom Carlin’s fifth as Villanova’s head coach. His squad finished 2011 with a Big East record of 4–5–1 and 8–9–4 overall with wins against Manhattan, Drexel, Saint Joseph’s, Seton Hall, St. John’s, Syracuse, Notre Dame, and USFM. The Wildcats went deep into the playoffs last season starting with a first round victory over Notre Dame. Nova went on to beat USF in the quarterfinals and fell to 2011 Big East champs, St. John’s, in the semi-finals. 2011 marks Coach Carlin’s fourth consecutive appearance in the Big East playoffs.

The Wildcats lost three seniors at the end of the 2011 season including Kevin Garcia who was signed by New England in the 2012 MLS supplemental draft. However, ten of the team’s starters are returning including key forward Dylan Renna and top scorers Kyle Soroka and Aaron Dennis. In the midfield is Oscar Umar who was named to the 2011 All-Big East Rookie Team. Goalkeeper John Fogarty also returns after securing 8 shutouts overall last season.

The Wildcats begin their regular season tonight at Manhattan. They return to Villanova for their home opener against Stony Brook on Aug. 28 and celebrate the Labor Day weekend with a match at Colgate on Sept. 1. Nova returns to the Philadelphia area to play Hartford on Sept. 7 and Air Force on Sept. 9 at Penn Park. They visit Penn on Sept. 14 before returning to Villanova for a stretch of home games including Princeton on Sept. 16, La Salle on Sept. 20 and Temple on Sept. 25.

Big East conference play begins with a home match against USF on Sept. 29 followed by a two game road trip to St. John’s on Oct. 3 and DePaul on Oct. 6. The Wildcats return home for a non-conference match against Lafayette on Oct. 9 before resuming Big East action against Cincinnati on Oct. 13 and Syracuse on Oct. 17. Carlin’s squad heads back on the road with matches at Louisville on Oct. 20 and Rutgers on Oct. 24. Villanova finishes the regular season at home against Pittsburgh on Oct. 27.