Two First Half Goals Lead Wilmington Women’s Soccer to 2-0 Victory at Chestnut Hill

Copyright 2017; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. File photo of Ashley Cafarella who scored her first goal of the year at Chestnut Hill, taken by James Jones.
Copyright 2017; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. File photo of Ashley Cafarella who scored her first goal of the year at Chestnut Hill, taken by James Jones.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - - A pair of first half goals carried the Wilmington University women's soccer team to a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest, 2-0, on the road at Chestnut Hill on Tuesday afternoon.

With win, the Wildcats improve to 8-5-1 overall and 7-2 in the CACC, moving into a tie for second place with 21 points in the conference standings. The Griffins fall to 2-10 overall and 2-7 in the CACC.

The Wildcats wasted little time before moving in front of the Griffins, scoring in the eighth minute. Jessica Unsihuay played a ball across from inside the box, finding Krysta Memis for the one-time goal just 7:37 into the contest. It was Memis' fifth goal of the season, putting the Wildcats on top, 1-0.

The Wildcats continued to outshoot the Griffins, 22-3, in the first half, but it wasn't until the 42nd minute that they were able to find the back of the net again. Laura van Steveninck played a ball from 25-yards out into the center of the box, finding Ashley Cafarella for the 2-0 lead 41:47 into the match. It was Cafarella's first goal of the season.

The second half were more of the same for the Wildcats, outshooting the Griffins, 16-5 in the final 45 minutes. But the Wildcats weren't able to find the back of the net in the second half, despite beating the Chestnut Hill goalkeeper Leah Peshkin once with a Loran Wyrough header in the 83rd minute. The ball beat Peshkin but hit the crossbar and stayed out of the goal.

Kierstyn Williams recorded three saves for her fourth shutout of the season while Peshkin recorded 15 saves for the Griffins. The Wildcats outshot the Griffins, 38-8, for the match while also earning more corners, 8-1.

The Wildcats return home to the WU Athletics Complex for their final Saturday home game of the season in four days. They host Post in the first game of a soccer doubleheader with a 12:00 p.m. opening whistle. The team will honor its seniors prior to the start of the contest.