NEWARK, Del. - - Three goals spanning the halftime break allowed No. 23 Mercy to overcome an upstart Wilmington University men's soccer team, 4-2, on Wednesday afternoon in the final nonconference battle of the regular season at the WU Athletics Complex.
The loss snaps a four-game winning streak for the Wildcats (6-8-2) as they now turn to the final two games of the regular season in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference play starting on Saturday at Bridgeport.
The Wildcats started fast against the Mavericks, jumping out to a 12-4 advantage in shots in the first half. They struck first in the 27th minute, scoring off their fourth corner of the game. Alex Tarway played a short cross to the near post and Michiharu Takanashi one-timed it inside the near post, scoring his eighth goal of the year.
The Wildcats had another golden opportunity in the 34th minute, but Stanley Ho's volley hit the crossbar and stayed out. Jhamaleek Porter's rebound attempt went wide as well.
Mercy didn't have many chances in the first half, but they converted at the end to steal the momentum. After a turnover in the Wildcats' defensive third, NCAA DII leading goal scorer Johannes Hanken Tjostheim got behind the line and chipped one over the drawn out goalkeeper in the 43rd minute. The game went into the break tied, 1-1.
Out of the halftime break, the Mavericks scored a pair of goals in a matter of 4:13, breaking the tie in the 52nd minute and then taking a 3-1 lead with another goal in the 56th minute.
The Wildcats rallied and cut the deficit to within one, as the NCAA DII fourth leading goal scorer Theo Faillon got on the board. Alex Tarway played Faillon into the box and Faillon cut the ball back across to the far post, scoring his 17th of the year to bring the Wildcats to within 302 63:34 into the match.
But the Mavericks answered right back, taking only 1:05 to widen the gap back out to 4-2. Johannes Hanken Tjostheim scored his third of the game to up his overall goal total to 20 on the year.
Michiharu Takanashi and Jhamaleek Porter had a chance to cut into the deficit in the 72nd minute. Takanashi's shot from the left side was saved and the rebound fell right to Porter. But he couldn't redirect into the empty net, keeping it a two-goal game.
The Wildcats ended up out shooting the Mavericks, 24-9, in the match, including 9-6 in shots on goal. Charlie Phillips made two saves in the game.
The Wildcats travel to Bridgeport on Saturday to play the Purple Knights. The opening kick-off is set for 6:00 p.m.
