Marchiano wins first game as Drexel head coach in 3-0 win over Villanova

Michael Marchiano’s Drexel career started on a high note Sunday with a 3-0 win over Villanova in the head coach’s debut.

Laolu Daranijo had a goal in each half and Chris Donovan scored with 10 minutes left in the first half to lead the Dragons to the program’s first win over their Philly Soccer Six rivals since 2014. The rivalry was renewed in a competitive game for the first time since 2015.

The visitors got on the board first when Michael McCarthy got on the end of an Elliott Swigert free kick and played it off to Daranijo for the strike in the 9th minute. McCarthy was involved in the buildup to another goal when he was played out wide on the left flank near the corner flag and his cross into the box found its way to Donovan for the strong finish in front of goal.

Drexel stretched the lead to three in the 67th minute when Kyle Tucker combined with Donovan on a run forward into the box and found Daranijo with a short pass through traffic and the senior forward was able to beat Nova keeper Carson Williams for the third time on the day.

Drexel goalkeepers Cameron Sanders and Stephen Kopsachilis each played a half to contribute to the shared clean sheet.

With the loss, Villanova fell to 0-2-0 on the season with back-to-back home losses to Philly Soccer Six opponents. They conceded twice in the last 14 minutes to La Salle in their season opener and have now been outscored 5-1 on the young season.

Up next, the Wildcats host defending national champions Georgetown on Saturday at 1 p.m. to kick off their Big East slate. Drexel visits Saint Joseph’s on Saturday at 4 p.m.