NYACK, N.Y. - - Lorne Bickley set a new program record with his 21st and 22nd goals tonight, leading the 11th ranked Wilmington University men's soccer team to a 6-2 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference victory at Nyack on Saturday night.
Lorne Bickley (St. Helier, Jersey) scored the game's first goal of each half, giving him 22 goals on the year. He broke current assistant coach Anthony Allison's (Sargbah Tarpeh) 10-year mark of 21 goals set in 2009. The 22 goals also tie the CACC single season mark set by Dominican's Kyle Clancy in 2002. Allison still hold the program and CACC record for 54 points in a single season, also in the 2009 season.
The scoring started in the eighth minute of play for the Wildcats, as a 50/50 ball at midfield turned into a breakaway for Bickley. Callum McHale headed a ball to Fredrik Bentdal at midfield, who played a through ball to a charging Bickley. Bickley's left footed shot went over the out-drawn goalkeeper, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead 7:05 into the match.
Shawn Genus then put on the theatrics in the 23rd minute, sending a bicycle kick over the netminder and into the back of the net 22:14 into the match. Ben Jordan's initial shot was saved, but the ball bounced right to Fredrik Bentdal. He recycled the ball and then sent a cross into the box. With his back to the goal, Genus flew in the air and bicycled it home from 12-yards out for the 2-0 lead.
Starting with the ball at Gabriel Prgomet's feet, the Wildcats worked the ball up the field down the middle. Mamadou Diombera played Hakim Williams into the left corner, and his low cross came all the way to the back post, where Ellis McSharry was waiting for the one-time goal in the 36th minute.
Shawn Genus picked up his second goal of the first half moments later, getting a second chance after a failed misclear. Genus had the ball on the left endline, and his cross attempt was blocked initially, but bounced right back to him. He took a step in and beat the goalkeeper high to give the Wildcats a 4-0 lead going into the break.
Out of the halftime break, the Wildcats' high pressure led to another goal, as Lorne Bickley set the single season mark with his second goal in the 60th minute. He and Abdul Mansaray forced the turnover, and Bickley raced in on goal. Bickley poked a shot past a sliding netminder for his 22nd of the season, giving the Wildcats a 5-0 lead.
The scoring came to an end in the 63rd minute, as a throw-in sprung Dimitrios Topouzlis free in the middle of the field. He played the ball into the box for Genus, who one touched it to the other side of the box for a hard charging Abdul Mansaray. His one-time goal was his 12th goal of the year, giving the Wildcats the 6-0 lead.
The Warriors scored 30 seconds later to get on the board, and once more in the 74th minute, but it was too little too late for the home team as the Wildcats' defense settled down.
The Wildcats outshot the Warriors, 22-11, including 15-9 on goal, in the game. Gabriel Prgomet made six saves for the win.
The Wildcats have two games remaining in the regular season, starting with Goldey-Beacom on Wednesday. The Wildcats and Lightning are set for a 3:30 p.m. opening whistle at the WU Athletics Complex.
Video courtesy of head coach Nick Papanicolas.
