Five First Half Goals Carry #18 Men’s Soccer Past Georgian Court, 8-1; Bickley With Another Hat Trick

Photo following Lorne Bickley's second goal at Georgian Court. Copyright 2019; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo by James Jones. September 24, 2019 at Georgian Court.
Photo following Lorne Bickley's second goal at Georgian Court. Copyright 2019; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo by James Jones. September 24, 2019 at Georgian Court.

LAKEWOOD, N.J. - - The best start in program history continues for the 18th ranked Wilmington University men's soccer program, as they came out and put five goals on the board in the first half in part of an 8-1 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference victory at Georgian Court on Tuesday afternoon at Investors Bank Field.

The 7-0 start is by far the best start to a season for the Wildcats (7-0, 2-0 CACC), as they won three straight to start the 2009, 2015, and the 2016 seasons. The Wildcats also scored eight goals on Saturday, making the 16 goals in two goals the most by the program since joining the NCAA in 2004. The Wildcats scored 14 goals combined in back-to-back games last season, with scores of 6-0 and 8-1.

Redshirt junior Lorne Bickley was at it again, scoring his third hat trick of the season to lead the Wildcats. He once again put the Wildcats on the board in the early going, this time scoring at the 6:04 mark for the 1-0 lead. Abdul Mansaray added to the lead in the 14th minute, scoring on a cross from Callum McHale for the 2-0 lead.

Bickley scored his second of the day in the 20th minute, as Mansaray played it forward to Shawn Genus who one-timed it over to Bickley for a one-on-one with the keeper. Shawn Genus was then able to convert one himself, as he collected a clearing attempt from the Lions defense at the top of the box and went far post for the 4-0 lead in the 34th minute.

Some extracurricular activity in the box after a Wildcat corner kick led to Ben Jordan being able to step to the spot and deliver a penalty kick in the 41st minute, sending the Wildcats into the halftime break leading 5-0.

After the break, Shawn Genus stole the ball on a GCU thrown in, and passed it back to Bickley at the top of the box, and his low shot beat the keeper's short side to complete his hat trick and give the Wildcats a 6-0 lead in the 48th minute.

Abdul Mansaray scored his second of the day in the 61st minute, putting home a combination play from Nick Langat and Ben Jordan. Vegard Pernes scored his first collegiate career goal in the 85th minute, capping the scoring with a goal form Keith Sanderson for the 8-0 lead.

The Wildcats couldn't keep the clean sheet, however, as Matthew Finocchiaro scored his first of the season in the 86th minute to put the Lions (1-5, 1-1 CACC) on the board.

Gabriel Prgomet made four stops in goal for the Wildcats for the win, as the visitors outshot the Lions, 23-15. The Wildcats also collected more corners, 6-2, in the win.

CACC play continues for the Wildcats, as they look to remain unbeaten on the season when they return home for Homecoming on Saturday. They will cap the tripleheader at the WU Athletics Complex with a 3:00 p.m. opening whistle against Dominican.