The Wilmington University women's soccer team broke out with four goals in the second half, getting a hat trick from Loran Wyrough to snap a five-game losing streak on Saturday, 5-1, against Bloomfield at the WU Athletics Complex.
Wyrough became the first Wildcat (3-9, 3-5 CACC) to score a hat trick since teammate Chelsea Grace scored three times against Chestnut Hill on October 17, 2012.
On a wet and chilly afternoon, Wyrough finally put the Wildcats on the board late in the first half despite outshooting the Bears (1-11, 1-7 CACC), 11-3, including multiple break-a-way chances.
Kellie MacIntosh's turnaround shot was saved at the doorstep by Bloomfield keeper Diana Vincentini with a minute left in the first half. Alexa Smalley took the ensuing corner. After a scramble in the box, the ball popped loose to Wyrough atop the 18-yard box and her shot found the back of the next with 31 seconds showing on the clock.
Wyrough was at it again shortly after the halftime break, scoring on a run to the near post after a cross and set up by Becky Sowers and Grace. Wyrough got just enough of it against the challenging keeper to have it trickle across the line just 53 seconds into the second period.
On one of the team's 10 corners on the afternoon, freshman Carin Essex-Arline headed home a corner kick to the near post by Grace, beating Vincentini high for her third goal of the season. Essex-Arline gave the Wildcats a 3-0 lead in the 64th minute.
The Bears got a goal back less than two minutes later when Ashley Nolan scored on a long free kick from the left side, beating backup goalkeeper Kierstyn Williams at the far post.
But that would be as close as the Bears would get as Sierrah Taylor stretched the leas back out to three goals with her first collegiate career goal in the 75th minute. She took advantage of a misclear by Vincentini who had four Wildcats barreling down on her outside the 18-yard box. Jillian Porter played the ball to Taylor who slid it home in the empty net for the 4-1 lead.
Wyrough capped the scoring and her hat trick in the 85th minute, receiving a through ball down the middle from Taylor. Wyrough shot to her right and hit the inside of the post to secure the goal 84:36 into the match. She now has eight goals on the season.
Julia Brown started the match in net for the Wildcats, making one save in the first have to record the victory. Williams made two stops to secure the win for the Wildcats while playing the second half. Vincentini made nine saves for the Bears.
The Wildcats take to the road for their two games next week, first traveling to cross-town rival Goldey-Beacom College on Wednesday afternoon. Game time is set for 3 p.m. in Wilmington, Del.