No. 4 Women’s Soccer Overcomes Early Deficit to Advance to CACC Semifinals with 3-1 Victory over No. 5 Goldey-Beacom

A celebration following Lauren Hoelke's (14) goal to make it 3-1 against GBC. Copyright 2021; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo by James Jones. November 9, 2021 vs. Goldey-Beacom in CACC 1st Round.
A celebration following Lauren Hoelke's (14) goal to make it 3-1 against GBC. Copyright 2021; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo by James Jones. November 9, 2021 vs. Goldey-Beacom in CACC 1st Round.

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NEWARK, Del. - - For the first time since 2017, the Wilmington University women's soccer team advanced to the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Semifinals with a 3-1 come-from-behind victory over fifth seeded Goldey-Beacom on Tuesday at the WU Athletics Complex.

The Wildcats (11-4-3) lost in the CACC Tournament First Round in 2018 and 2019 on the road, but won their second straight First Round game when playing at home (2017). Today was the first postseason matchup between the two Delaware programs.

With the win, the Wildcats will head to Post University for the CACC Tournament Semifinals on Friday. The women's tournament will be played at Municipal Stadium in Waterbury, Connecticut. The Wildcats will play the No. 8 seed Georgian Court who upset No. 1 Dominican in a penalty kick shootout on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the Wildcats needed to battle from behind after the Lightning (10-7) pounced on a mistake by the Wildcats in their own end and scored. Alex Lowry gave the Lightning an early 1-0 lead just 3:19 into the contest.

But the Wildcats stayed calm and mounted a comeback, quickly tying the game in the 11th minute. Lauren Hoelke played a long ball over the top to a hard charging Krysta Memis. The Goldey-Beacom defender played it back to her goalkeeper, but the keeper's clearance ricocheted off her defender and popped right to Jimena Garcia Risoto. She saw the goalie off her line and chipped it over the top to tie the game at the 10:18 mark.

The Wildcats continued to press and found the back of the net again in the 24th minute. Much like they have all season, the Wildcats used a set piece to take the lead. Kasie Lambert played a corner to the top of the 18-yard box, finding the head of Samantha Emmi who headed it home from 17-yards out for her sixth goal of the year.

The Wildcats went on to outshoot the Lightning, 8-6, in the first half, while Emily Camp was called on to make two saves to keep the Wildcats leading 2-1 at the break.

Wilmington came out strong to start the second half as well, getting an insurance goal from Lauren Hoelke in the 53rd minute. Julia Yuhase beat her defender down the left sideline, keeping the ball in play while staying on her feet. She found Hoelke atop the 18-yard box who took a forwarding touch and blasted a shot form distance into the top left corner of the goal. it is her seventh goal of the year, giving the Wildcats a 3-1 lead at the 52:01 mark.

Kasie Lambert had another chance off a freekick in the 66th minute but Noel Talbot got her fingers on it to keep it out. Lauren Hoelke had another chance in the 82nd minute, but she popped it up over the net from in close and the score remained, 3-1.

The Wildcats outshot the Lightning, 16-10, and lead 5-4 in corners as well. Emily Camp made four saves to help the Wildcats advance.