By Eric Brod

Sports Editor

Coming off an impressive season in which they captured the Patriot League title, the Bison men’s soccer team opened their season with a disappointing 2-1 loss to the Villanova Wildcats Wednesday night at Emmitt Field at Holmes Stadium.

Throughout the first half, neither team was able to generate much offense as both defenses worked hard to keep the ball out of their goal. But with nine seconds left in the first half, Ryan Sappington ’12 netted the first goal of the season for the Orange and Blue. The play was set up by a flawless throw-in deep in Wildcat territory by Tommy McCabe ’11.

In the opening minutes of the second half, goalie Tommy Caso ’12 made a series of spectacular saves, but Villanova player Dylan Renna found the back of the net seven minutes into the second half. Neither team was able to score the rest of regulation, which forced the first game of the season into tense sudden-death overtime.

Villanova first-year Joseph Schmid scored the game–winner 6:18 into the overtime period after the Orange and Blue struggled to defend their own end of the field.

The game was played evenly throughout, with the Wildcats edging the Bison in shots 12-11.

The Bison return to action today at 7 p.m. as they travel to Philadelphia, Pa. to face off against the La Salle Explorers.