Nick Lucchesi Sends the 'Cats to the Postseason With Overtime Game Winner at Marquette

Villanova men's lacrosse clinches BIG EAST Tournament berth with thrilling OT victory over Marquette

Apr. 18, 2026 at 7:23pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the dynamic action of a lacrosse game, with players and the ball represented through bold, angular shapes in a vibrant color palette, conceptually capturing the energy and intensity of the Villanova-Marquette matchup.Villanova's dramatic overtime victory against Marquette showcases the team's grit and determination as they fight for a BIG EAST championship.Today in Milwaukee

Villanova's Nick Lucchesi scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give the Wildcats a 16-15 victory over Marquette and clinch a spot in the BIG EAST Tournament. Colin Michener led Villanova with a career-high seven goals, while Luke Raymond reached 100 career points in the game.

Why it matters

This victory secures Villanova's spot in the BIG EAST Tournament, giving them a chance to compete for the conference championship. The Wildcats have now won 10 straight games against Marquette, with three of the last four decided by just one goal.

The details

Villanova trailed Marquette for much of the game, but a late comeback in the fourth quarter sent the game to overtime. In the extra period, George Glomb won the opening faceoff and Beau Kemler scooped up the ground ball, leading to Lucchesi's game-winning goal to lift the Wildcats to victory.

  • The game was played on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
  • Villanova will host Georgetown on Friday, April 24, 2026 to determine the BIG EAST regular season champion.

The players

Nick Lucchesi

The junior midfielder from Radnor High School scored the game-winning goal in overtime to send Villanova to the BIG EAST Tournament.

Colin Michener

The Villanova player led the way with a career-high seven goals in the victory.

Luke Raymond

The Villanova player reached 100 career collegiate points in the game with a goal and a career-high five assists.

George Glomb

The Villanova player tied a career-high with 17 faceoff wins and added nine ground balls.

Anthony Wilson

The Villanova goaltender made nine saves to earn the win.

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What’s next

Villanova will host Georgetown on Friday, April 24, 2026 to determine the BIG EAST regular season champion. The winner will earn the top seed in the upcoming BIG EAST Tournament.

The takeaway

Villanova's thrilling overtime victory against Marquette showcases the team's resilience and determination, as they fought back from a late deficit to clinch a spot in the BIG EAST Tournament. This win sets up a crucial regular season finale against Georgetown, with the conference title on the line.