Press Release Written by Sports Information Graduate Intern Mary Kate Rumbaugh
NEWARK, Del. – In a two hour and seven minute game in the pouring rain, No. 16 Wilmington University men's soccer team defeated Jefferson, 6-2, on Wednesday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex.
It only took 13 minutes into the game for the Wildcats (11-1-1, 5-1-1 CACC) to score the first goal of the contest, as Shawn Genus crossed a ball into the box from the right side, which was deflected by a Ram defender for Vegard Pernes to get a shot off. WilmU would score two more times in the first half, including five minutes later on a cross from Abdul Mansaray into the box for Lorne Bickley who knocked it in.
Two minutes later in the 20th minute, Pernes made a centering ball into the box for Bickley, who made the sliding shot to give Wilmington a 3-0 lead. WilmU would have 10 shots in the first half, while holding Jefferson (4-7-1, 4-3 CACC) to only three.
In the 52nd minute, Ben Jordan would get into the mix to make it a 4-0 lead, before the Rams stopped the shutout with their first goal of the contest, making it 4-1 with over 30 minutes to play. On a free kick opportunity from about 25 yards out, Jordan scored again for his second goal of the game to put the Wildcats back up by four.
Jefferson would net one more goal in the contest, scoring with 10 minutes left in regulation to make it a 5-2 ballgame, but Abdul Mansaray had the final word, as he beat two Rams defenders on a pass from Nick Langat to give Wilmington their third straight game with six goals.
Lorne Bickley, who leads all Division II in goals, would net his 16th and 17th goals of the year, as Ben Jordan added two more for his fifth and sixth goals of the year. Vegard Pernes had one goal and two assists, while Abdul Mansaray had one goal and one assist. Shawn Genus and Nick Langat both had one assist, as well. Gabriel Prgomet made two saves on four shots in goal.
Wilmington outshot the Rams, 15-9, but the Rams had seven corners to the Wildcats' three.
The Wildcats will have their last Saturday home game of the regular season on the 19th, as Caldwell comes to the WU Athletics Complex. The men will follow the women in a doubleheader, which is slated for 2:30 p.m.
Video courtesy of head coach Nick Papanicolas
