Press Release Written by Athletics Operations Manager Rich Groff
NEWARK, Del. - - The Wilmington University men's soccer team won a Central Athletic Collegiate Conference contest over Dominican behind the foot of Abdul Mansaray, 2-1, on Saturday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex to wrap up the 2017 WilmU Homecoming Weekend.
Mansaray gave the Wildcats (5-5-3, 3-2-2 CACC) a 1-0 lead with a goal in the first half before breaking a 1-1 tie with a second half goal to shut the door on Dominican (2-10, 2-6 CACC).
Mansaray scored the first goal of the game in the sixth minute, getting on the end of a long ball that started from Elliot Johnson. The ball was challenged by the Charger goalie and Dimitious Topouzlis at the top of the 18 and popped loose for Mansaray to find the back of the net. The Cats outshot the Chargers, 16-9, for the game, including 6-2 in the first half. Wilmington also led the game in corner kicks at a total of 13-3.
Dominican would not go down without a fight, because in the 56th minute Wilmington would commit a foul just shy of the 18, resulting in a dangerous free kick. Charger leading scorer Sergio Monton stepped to the ball and bent a right footed shot around the wall and into the upper 90 at the near post in the 58th minute to tie the game at 1-1.
After the goal by Monton, the Wildcats put five shots on goal in the next nine minutes. The team finally found a result being after a give and go with Dominic Folarin and Mansaray. Mansaray's initial shot was denied but he received a rebound opportunity and put it away for what would prove to be the game winner in the 71st minute.
Wilmington goalkeeper Vinny Tasca saved three shots in the match, two of them coming after Mansaray's second goal to preserve the win.
The Wildcats' next contest will be on the road as they travel to Chestnut Hill College on Wednesday. First kick in Philadelphia is scheduled for 3:30 pm.
