No. 14 Men’s Soccer Advances to CACC Tournament Semifinals with 6-0 Win over Felician; Nick Papanicolas Records 200th Career Victory

Photo of Shawn Genus (10) and Marcus Hedemann (24) celebrating following a goal. Copyright 2021; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo by Trudy Spence. November 8, 2021 vs. Felician in CACC Tournament First Round.
Photo of Shawn Genus (10) and Marcus Hedemann (24) celebrating following a goal. Copyright 2021; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo by Trudy Spence. November 8, 2021 vs. Felician in CACC Tournament First Round.

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NEWARK, Del. - - For the 11th time in its NCAA era, the Wilmington University men's soccer team is advancing to the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Semifinals, as the No. 2 seeded Wildcats defeated the No. 7 seed Felician, 6-0, on Monday afternoon in the First Round at the WU Athletics Complex.

It is the third year in a row that the 14th ranked Wildcats reached the CACC Tournament Semifinals, and the eighth time out of the last nine seasons (2012, 2013, 2014 (finalists), 2015, 2016, 2018 (finalists), and 2019). The Wildcats did not compete in the 2021 CACC Spring Season due to COVID-19 concerns.

They advance to take on 3rd seeded Dominican in the CACC Semifinals on Friday at 12:30 p.m. on the campus of Post University in Waterbury, Conn. Dominican defeated No. 6 seed Nyack, 2-1, on Friday as well.

With the win, head coach Nick Papanicolas earned his 200th career coaching victory at the helm of the Wildcats. He is now 200-106-33 overall in his 18th years with the Wildcats. He is the only coach in the Wildcats' NCAA era. It is believed that the CACC men's soccer coaching record belongs to former Nyack College head coach Keith Davie, as he recorded 201 career wins with the Warriors from 1995 to 2018.

On Monday, Shawn Genus and Shoki Yoshida paced the Wildcats to the 6-0 victory over the Golden Falcons (6-10-1) by scoring five of the six goals.

Yoshida started the scoring in the 19th minute, as he redirected a cross from Marius Skattum Dahl. Yohan Kim played Skattum Dahl into the box and he played a low cross to the near post from the endline where Yoshida was there to score his fourth of the year 18:36 into the contest.

Less than three minutes later, Shawn Genus made it 2-0 with his first of the day. Yoshida played Marcus Hedemann into the box on the left endline where he crossed it back to the six-yard box. Genus was there to redirect it into the back of the net for the 2-0 lead just 21:31 into the contest.

The Wildcats would go on to out shoot the Golden Falcons, 12-2, in the first half, but would only go into the halftime break with that 2-0 lead.

But it wouldn't take long for Yoshida to get on the board again early in the second half. Carson Talboys played a clearance ahead to Hakim Williams. The senior took his space and then played a through ball to a charging Yoshida streaking down the middle. Yoshida was in alone on goal and slotted his shot into the back of the net for the 3-0 lead in the 52nd minute.

Moments later, Hakim Williams set up the fourth goal as well. Williams was dancing with the ball at his feet in the box, and then was taking down from behind and the Wildcats were awarded a penalty kick. Shawn Genus stepped up and buried his third PK of the year for his 19th goal of the season. It was 4-0 in favor of the Wildcats in the 53rd minute.

Shawn Genus then completed his hat trick in the 62nd minute, as the Wilmington high pressure once against resulted in a turnover and counter attack. Following a Felician goal kick, Felician couldn't get it out of the zone. Shawn Genus stepped in, stole the ball, and a quick shot from 22 yards out found the upper corner, giving him 20 on the season and taking over the CACC lead.

More high pressure created another turnover for the Wildcats and the offense went on the attack. Pol Romero hit the crossbar from 15 yards out, but the rebound went right to Deshawn Bernard. He crossed it back over to the right post, finding Max Norden all alone for his first goal as a Wildcat.

The Wildcats outshot the Golden Falcons, 26-4, in the match and took more corners, 11-2. Konstantinos Parisis was called on to make one save in the match, recording his eighth shutout of the season.