NEWARK, Del. - - It was apparent early in the match that Wednesday's match was going to go in favor of the Wilmington University men's soccer team, as the team went on to defeat West Chester, 4-1, at the WU Athletics Complex.
Playing in their second game of a five match home stand, the Wildcats (8-2 overall) scored all four goals in the first half against the visiting Rams (3-3-2), but not before a miss penalty kick by the visitors in the sixth minute.
Following a foul in the Wilmington penalty box at the 5:55 mark of the opening half, Wildcat goalkeeper Frank Hall guessed to his right side and made a kick safe against Robert Silva, and recorded the follow up save to preserve the scoreless contest.
From there it was all Wilmington; as the Wildcats went on to score four goals in the rest of the first half. Junior Elton Joe got the scoring started for the home team with his eighth goal of the season in the ninth minute. Sophomore Lance Berry played a perfect ball over the top to release Joe in on goal free. Joe did the rest for the 1-0 lead.
Just over 10 minutes later, Femi Akintunde made it 2-0 in favor of the Wildcats with his second goal of the season at the 19:36 mark. Tommy Quaranta started the play with the ball on the left side of the penalty box. Down on the touch line, Quaranta crossed the ball to the six yard line, drawing the keeper away from the goal. Joe got a touch on the ball which found its way past the keeper and to an open Akintunde on the far post. The sophomore tapped it home for his second goal of the year.
Wilmington remained to be efficient with its shots, as its next show also found the back of the net at the 25:07 mark. Again it was Joe who had the final touch on the ball, this time after a ball over the top of the defense by Akintunde from the 50-yard mark. Joe found himself in alone on the goalkeeper once again, burying the shot for his team leading ninth goal of the season.
The Wildcats capped the scoring in the first half in the 41st minute, as Vitor Lime tallied his second goal of the season, once again beating the defense over the top and getting in on the keeper alone. Bruno Montino forced a turnover at mid field and then lofted a ball in over the top to an ensuing Lima for the breakaway goal. It was the fourth goal on seven first half shots.
After the break, the Golden Rams were able to get on the board with a free kick goal by Tommy Ryan in the 67th minute, but it was too little too late as that was all they could muster.
Wilmington outshot the Golden Rams, 19-8, for the match, while also earning more corners, 5-2.
Hall improved to 7-1 on the year after making a pair of saves in the first half before turning the cage over to Spyros Stergiotis. The junior net minder made three saves in the second half to secure the victory.
The Wildcats remain at the friendly confines of the WU Athletics Complex for another match this week, as they welcome No. 15 ranked Post to Newark on Saturday. Post, last year's CACC Regular Season Champions, moved back into the NSCAA/Continental Tire National Top 25 this week and are 7-1 overall, 5-1 in the CACC. The game is slated for a 2:30 p.m. start.
Saturday is also the annual Breast Cancer Awareness match, so fans are encouraged to wear pink to show support in fighting the deadly disease. There will also be a chance for all in attendance to give monetary donations at the soccer doubleheader.
