Press Release Written by Athletics Operations Manager Rich Groff.

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - - The Wilmington University men's soccer team scored the first two goals of a 2-1 victory nonconference victory at Bridgeport on Tuesday, giving head coach Nick Papanicolas his 150^th career victory.

In their final nonconference game of the regular season, the Wildcats (8-5-3 overall) put up 18 shots against the Purple Knights' (3-9-1) six. The Wildcats were four minutes away from their third consecutive shutout, however Bridgeport's Femi Coker had other ideas as he found the back of the net from a cross off the foot of teammate Jaylan White that he deposited into the goal.

Tom Garratt got the visitors on the board in the 30^th minute with his second goal of the season. Garratt finished off an initial shot from Daniel MacDonald-Taylor that clanked off the post and he was there to deposit it into the back of the net. The lone goal would be how the first half would end as neither team would put another shot up in final 10 minutes.

As the second half got underway, a Purple Knight red card in the 50^th minute would give the Wildcats a man advantage for the remainder of the match. The visitors would take full advantage of that situation as they put four shots on goal in six minutes.  MacDonald-Taylor would eventually tally his first goal of the year as he chipped a ball just out of reach of the Knights' goalkeeper in the 63^rd minute.

The Knights finally got on the board in the 86^th minute, but the Wildcats were able to keep the ball at the other end of the field for the rest of the match to secure the victory.

Senior goalkeeper Connor Halstad made his second start on the year. He made three saves in the game, upping his season total to six in picking up his first win as a Wildcat.

The win was Papanicolas' 150^th of his 14 year tenure at the helm of the Wildcats. He has been the only head coach of the Wildcats' NCAA era, making tonight the program's 150^th win as well. Papanicolas is now 150-97-27 all-time, making for a .597 win percentage.

The Wildcats will be back on the road for their final away game of the regular season on Saturday when they travel to Concordia. First kick scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in Bronxville, N.Y.