PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - - The combination of newcomers Elton Joe and Jordon Ellison kept the 21st ranked Wilmington University men's soccer team rolling on Thursday afternoon, as Joe scored both goals off passes by Ellison in a 2-0 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference victory over Holy Family at Tiger Field.
The win was the third in a row for the No. 21 Wildcats (5-1, 2-0 CACC) who moved up one spot in the NSCAA/Continental Tire Division II National Poll earlier this week. It is the first time the Wildcats have started 2-0 in the CACC since they went 11-0 in conference matches during the 2009 season.
Holy Family (1-3-1, 1-1 CACC) and the Wildcats played to a scoreless first half, matching each other in every major category. The teams were knotted at seven shots a piece, two corner kicks, three shots on goal, and each goal keeper made three first half saves.
The Wilmington offense regrouped at the halftime break, however coming out and the first two shots and three corners in the books in the first 12 minutes. But it was the fourth shot of the second half that finally put the Wildcats on the board.
It was Ellison who got things rolling, making a run down the right side, beating his defender, and putting a cross onto the six-yard line. The cross found a streaking Joe who one-timed it out of the air at the 63:13 mark. The goal was the third of the season for the junior transfer, and helped him extend his season long point streak to six.
But Joe and Ellison weren't done.
Following a long punt by goalkeeper Frank Hall, Ellison continued the ball forward to an awaiting Joe on the front line. Bodying off his defender, Joe fired a shot from 12-yards out, beating Tigers' goalkeeper Nick Aglira to the right side for his fourth goal of the season.
"We played much better in the second half today," head coach Nick Papanicolas said as the Wildcats were able to out shoot the Tigers, 9-3, in the second stanza. "Elton Joe was the difference. He was tremendous today."
Joe now has four goals and four assists on the season, tying him with Tommy Quaranta with 12 points on the season to lead the team. Ellison's two assists give him three so far in his freshman season.
Hall recorded his second lone shutout of the season and his third overall, making four saves on the afternoon. He is now 4-0 on the season.
The Wildcats remain on the road and in the CACC with another contest this week, as they look to remain unbeaten in the conference when they head to Concordia on Saturday. The opening draw is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.