Second Half Video Recap below recap.
Copyright 2016; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo of Richer (center) with her family and teammates on Senior Day, taken by James Jones.
NEWARK, Del. - - The Wilmington University women's soccer team wrapped up its 2016 home slate with a 5-1 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference victory over Nyack on Saturday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex.
Although the shots represent a closer game than the final outcome, the Wildcats (10-6, 8-3 CACC) were able to bury their opportunities in the match while Nyack (6-10, 6-6 CACC) couldn't capitalize. The Wildcats outshot the Warriors, 11-8, for the match.
The scoring started early for the Wildcats, as they were able to convert on their first shot of the game. Rebecca Dolhanksy lofted a ball into the box from the right sideline. The ball carried over all her intended targets, including the Warrior goalkeeper and into the upper left hand corner of the goal for the 1-0 lead in the fourth minute.
Teigha Ward gave the Wildcats a 2-0 lead heading into the halftime break with her ninth of the season in the 39th minute. Loran Wyrough played a ball into the left side of the box and Ward spun around a defender before putting her left foot on the ball for the goal.
Nyack cut the deficit in half to start the scoring in the second half, using a short corner in the 58th minute to find the back of the net. But the Wildcats were able to quickly respond; using back-to-back goals to extended the lead once more.
Dolhansky fed a ball to the left side and a hard charging Gabrielle Perry. Perry raced around her defender and into the box, beating the goalkeeper with a high shot in the 67th minute. Less than a minute later, Wyrough turned a Warrior turnover in the backfield into her ninth goal of the year, getting a through ball from Ashley Cafarella for the breakaway.
Stephanie Alvarez capped the scoring for the Wildcats in the 83rd minute, volleying home a cross from the left corner by Kelly Robbins for her second goal of the season.
Saturday was the final regular season home game for the Wildcats' lone senior, Kim Richer. The defender has started in 63 of the 64 career games she's played thus far, and has scored five goals while adding six assists for 16 career points.
The win keeps the Wildcats on pace with Caldwell in second place with the 8-3 CACC record, but Caldwell holds the head-to-head tiebreaker with one game to play. The Wildcats' 2016 regular season comes to a close when they head across town to play Goldey-Beacom on Wednesday afternoon. Start time is set for 3:30 p.m.
