DePaul and Villanova Battle to 1-1 Draw in BIG EAST Opener

Friday, September 19

Villanova, Pa.

1:00 P.M. CT

DePaul University

2-1-5, 0-0-1

Villanova

2-2-3, 0-0-1

DePaul

Villanova

Tyler Flowers takes the ball down the field.

DePaul and Villanova Battle to 1-1 Draw in BIG EAST Opener

9/19/2025 3:51:00 PM | MEN'S SOCCER

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Redshirt freshman Tyler Flowers scores first career goal

VILLANOVA, Pa. – DePaul men's soccer fought to a 1-1 draw at Villanova on Friday afternoon to open the 2025 BIG EAST slate. After minimal quality chances for either side in the first half, the second half was a different story with both squads creating more looks on goal and eventually finding the back of the net within seven minutes of each other.

After the third-consecutive draw in the series, the Blue Demons moved to 2-1-5 on the season while Villanova now stands at 2-2-3 in 2025.

Redshirt-freshman Tyler Flowers provided the scoring for DePaul in the 63rd minute with a beautiful strike from 20 yards out on the assist from fellow freshman Nathan Laird. It wasn't too long until Villanova responded on a chance of their own to level the match once again in the 70th minute.

Hit the one-timer on 'em 😏

First collegiate goal for Flowers on the assist by Laird. https://t.co/ee8r5DtmOh pic.twitter.com/l9VKkM4UfX
— DePaul Men's Soccer (@DePaulMSOC) September 19, 2025

Despite being held to a season-low four shots in the first half, DePaul registered 11 in the second stanza to claim a 15-12 advantage over Villanova on the match. The Blue Demons also held a slight edge in corner kicks, 5-3.

Junior midfielder Noeh Hernandez led the Blue Demons with three shots while Nolan McGuire, Ryan Thomas and Laird had two apiece.

How It Happened
The Blue Demons were the aggressors early on, earning the game's first corner in the second minute. The Wildcats however, notched the first shot of the match in the 13th minute, but it was cleared away by the DePaul back line.

McGuire recorded consecutive shots from the right wing as DePaul put together its counterattack, but neither we're on frame.

DePaul's Santiago Davila was tested for the first time all match in the 29th minute as Villanova's Sam Nyenka fired a shot on frame but swallowed by the Blue Demons' keeper.

The Wildcats had a flurry of chances in the 34th minute on the doorstep of the cage, but Davila made a pair of critical stops to keep the score level.

DePaul ratcheted up the pressure in the final moments of the first half but couldn't find quality in the final third despite a corner kick opportunity in the 44th minute.

The two sides were level at the half with the Wildcats holding a 7-4 edge in shots.

Out of the intermission, DePaul saw its best looks of the match with Thomas firing a pair of shots on the far side of the pitch from 10 yards out, but both were staved off.

The Blue Demons opened the scoring in the 63rd minute as Laird played the ball back to the top of the box for Flowers to run on and fire a shot to the far post out of the reach of the Wildcats goalkeeper.

Villanova responded in the 70th minute with a ball played through the left side for Fynn Lahrsen to put it away and even the match with a shot across the goal to the far post.

Hernandez was active in DePaul's pursuit of the go-ahead goal with a pair of shots in a minute's span, but both were off target.

Christian Baumgartner got dangerously close to the game-winner in the final moments of the match with a pair of headers on frame via balls sent into the box but Villanova's goalkeeper made one last stand as the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Match Notes

Redshirt-freshman Tyler Flowers scored his first collegiate goal on Friday in a what could be considered a homecoming game for the Delaware native.
Nathan Laird recorded the first assist of his career while logging a career-best 59 minutes.
Sam Tinoco made the first start of his collegiate career Friday afternoon in his seventh appearance for the Blue Demons.
Santiago made a season-high five saves against the Wildcats.
The Blue Demons outshot their opponent for the seventh time in eight matches this season.
The two sides battled to a draw for the third-consecutive meeting with the Wildcats maintaining the overall series lead 9-5-6 including a 5-2-3 mark in matches played on the Main Line.

Up Next
DePaul returns home on Tuesday, Sept. 23 when Bowling Green visits Wish Field for a 2 p.m. matchup. The non-conference tilt will be aired live on Marquee Sports Network.