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NEWARK, Del. - - The Wilmington University men's soccer team won its second straight Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game on Wednesday, coming back in the second half to defeat Holy Family, 3-2, at the WU Athletics Complex.
The Wildcats (3-4-2, 2-2 CACC) struck first on Wednesday, but the Tigers (3-4-2, 1-2-1 CACC) answered as the teams were deadlocked, 1-1, at the half. Holy Family scored early in the second half to take a 2-1 lead but goals just 45 seconds apart in the 54th minute put the Wildcats on top for good.
Malthe Hannesbo put the Wildcats on the board with a dazzling low shot to the side netting in the 25th minute. Sora Noda had an attempt from 22 yards out that was blocked at the top of the 18-yard box. The ball bounced right to Malthe Hannesbo who cut the ball back inside to his right foot and took a low shot from the top of the box, beating the keeper to his right for his second goal of the season.
Holy Family would tie the game in the 32nd minute, as Sergio Revuelta curled a corner kick over the head of Wilmington goalkeeper Charlie Phillips and directly into the back of the net. The teams headed into the halftime break knotted, 1-1, with the Wildcats leading in shots, 9-7.
Out of the break, the Tigers struck quickly, needing just 3:36 to take the lead. Lautaro Berisso broke through down the right side and sent a pass all the way across the face of the goal to the back post to a wide open Thiago Lage. Charlie Phillips got a leg on it, but the ball continued to spin into the back of the net for the 2-1 lead.
The Tigers had another opportunity in the 52nd minute, as Thiago Lage found himself behind the back line once again. Charlie Phillips came off his line and made a sliding stop on Lage's shot, keeping the deficit to just one.
It didn't take long for the Wildcats to fight back, as Tyrese Small tied the game in the 54th minute. Ryuga Uchigashima was fouled on the left flank, giving the Wildcats a free kick opportunity. Max Norden lifted the ball to the far post and Tyrese Small skyed high to head the ball into the back of the net to tie the match 2-2.
Just 45 seconds later, Adrian Lekaj intercepted a pass at midfield and played it forward. He followed his pass and it paid off for him, as Hannesbo played it into the box as Yarek Carnegie chested it down. Lekaj charged hard to it at the near post and his shot went off the goalkeeper and trickled across the goalline before the Tigers could clear it away, and the Wildcats regained the lead, 3-2, 54 minutes into the contest.
Charlie Phillips was called upon to make one more save down the stretch, totaling five for the match.
The Wildcats hit the road for their next two matches, starting with at Dominican on Saturday. The men cap the doubleheader with a 2:30 p.m. start against the Chargers.
