BRONXVILLE, N.Y. - - Trailing by a pair of goals early in the second half, the No. 21 Wilmington University men's soccer team mounted a furious comeback to extend its winning streak to four straight with a 3-2 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference victory over Concordia on Saturday afternoon at Holtdorf Soccer Field.
"Today was a great comeback win by our guys," head coach Nick Papanicolas said. "We never gave up, even after they scored their second goal in the second half. The reserves off the bench did a great job of coming in and contributing positively to the effort. Our depth and fitness paid off late in the game today."
The comeback started in the 63rd minute, shortly after Concordia (1-4, 1-3 CACC) scored to put the home team up 2-0 midway through the second half. Wilmington (6-1, 3-0 CACC), ranked No. 21 in the latest NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division II National Top 25 Poll, recorded three unanswered goals in a span of 16:53 with the game winner coming in the 80th minute.
Junior sensation Elton Joe began the comeback with his fifth goal of the season, 1:23 after the Clippers made it 2-0 at the 61:07 mark of the contest. From the left side of the field, Joe was able to beat Clipper goalkeeper Ruel Gordon to his left, finding the side netting on the right side to make it 2-1 with 27:30 left in regulation.
Senior Tommy Quaranta did not want to be outdone by his teammate, as the two have countered each other's' scoring bouts all season long. Quaranta tied the match in the 71st minute, finishing the job as Joe's initial shot went off the post.
Wildcat goalkeeper Frank Hall needed to make three saves to keep the game knotted at 2-2 in the next nine minute, before the Wildcats could strike again. On only their second shot since tying the match, Joe found a way to beat Gordon once again, this time off a feed from Pedro Moreira at the 79:23 mark, bringing the Wildcats all the way back from a 2-0 deficit.
A deflated Concordia team was unable to even register a shot in the final 10 minutes of the match, as the Wildcats held on for the come from behind victory on the road.
Hall was called upon to make five saves in goal for the Wildcats, while Gordon made six stops for the Clippers. In all, the Wildcats outshot the Clippers, 20-18, for the match. Concordia was able to earn significantly more corners, however, 9-3, with seven coming in the first half.
The win was the third of the week for the Wildcats, as they also beat Millersville, 3-2, at home on Tuesday, and Holy Family, 2-0, on the road on Thursday.
The Wildcats return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Chestnut Hill for a CACC match at 4 p.m. before coming home on Saturday to cap Wilmington University's Homecoming festivities at 3:30 p.m. against Caldwell.