A day after debuting at No. 23 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Division II National Poll, the Wilmington University men's soccer team suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference foe Chestnut Hill on Wednesday at the WU Athletics Complex.

Wilmington started the game off strong with a corner kick by junior Samuel Naiwo and a header by junior Joe Woodley that went just high.  Then just moments later Naiwo had a shot on Goal but Chestnut Hill's goalie sophomore James Jackson collected his first save of many on Naiwo's first shot of the match.

The Griffins struck first in the 15^th minute when senior Nicholas Jaffe switched the ball from the middle of the field to the left side to senior Juan Amaya. Amaya blasted a 20-yard strike that found the back of the net on the Griffins' first shot of the game.  It was Amaya's fifth goal of the season and Jaffe's fifth assist on the year.

Wilmington sophomore Jamie Burridge tied the game in the 34^th minute with his second goal of the season. Woodley crossed the ball from the endline, finding Burridge at the six yard line where he was able to put it past Chestnut Hill goalkeeper James Jackson for the equalizer.

The Wildcats kept the offensive pressure on throughout the match, outshooting Chestnut Hill, 14–2, after the Griffins' first goal.  That was until the 86^th minute when Diogo Barboza received a cross from Joseph Casaletto that put Barboza one-on-one with the Wildcats junior goalie Frank Hall in front of the net. Barboza slid the shot under Hall to give the Griffins the go ahead goal and the eventual game winner.

Wilmington dominated possession throughout the game and in the stat sheet, outshooting Chestnut Hill, 18-5, for the match. Junior Joe Boulter and sophomore Jordan Ellison came off the bench for the Wildcats to contribute three shots a piece with one each on goal.  While Nicholas Jaffe lead the Griffins with two shots.

The second half got a little heated on both sides with a total of six yellow cards, three yellow's for each squad.  With two cards coming after the buzzer sounded at the end of the second half.

The Wildcats are back in action this Saturday looking to get back in the winners' column as they travel to Caldwell University to take on the Cougars at 2:00 p.m.

Press Release written by sports information assistant Nick Lentelle.