The Wilmington University women's soccer team leapfrogged a pair of teams and into the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference playoff picture with a 1-0 victory over Goldey-Beacom in a makeup game from earlier in the season on Monday afternoon.
With one game remaining in the regular season, the Wildcats (5-11, 5-6 CACC) stand with 15 points (three for a win) after jumping Goldey-Beacom (7-5-1, 4-5-1 CACC) and Dominican into seventh place. The conference takes its top eight teams to the CACC Tournament.
Senior Chelsea Grace converted a through ball down the middle from Loran Wyrough in the 25th minute for her first goal of the season. In alone on the keeper, Grace went high and to her left to find the back of the net from 15 yards out.
The Lightning had their chances, however, outshooting the Wildcats, 22-14, and earning more corners, 6-2. But the home team couldn't solve Wilmington's netminder Julia Brown, as she recorded 10 saves in the contest.
Brown's biggest save of the afternoon came in the 35th minute after the Lightning earned a penalty kick. Diving to her left, Brown deflected the attempt by Nicole Curry over the endline for a corner. Curry was 2-for-2 on penalty kicks prior to today's games.
The Wildcats had an insurance goal called back in the second half after Grace tapped home a rebound opportunity that slipped them the hands of Goldey-Beacom's Cindell Aguirre. That scoring chance came shortly after Kim Richer hit the crossbar on a free kick and a second chance header by Rebecca Sowers was saved.
The 10 saves are the second most in a game this season for Brown, but the most in a victory for the senior. Aquirre made seven saves for the Lightning, including three in the second half to keep the home team in the contest.
The Wildcats finish the regular season on Wednesday against Georgian Court at the WU Athletics Complex with a chance to solidify their spot in the CACC standings. Wednesday's match is set for a 3:30 p.m. start.