Press release written by Mitchell Coll
NEWARK, Del. - - The Wilmington University women's soccer team dropped a nonconference tilt to Mercy College Mavericks, 5-1, this Saturday afternoon at WU Athletics Complex.
The Wildcats (0-3-1) held the Mavericks (2-1-0), who were receiving voted in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason National Poll, scoreless for 44 minutes in the first half. The Wildcats' best chance of the first half came with sophomore Emilie Larsen in the 29th minute. Larsen had a 1v1 opportunity with Mercy's keeper, Kamy Anaya, on the right side, but Anaya made a great save, coming off her line to keep the game scoreless.
Sophomore keeper Mio Nakajima made saves in the ninth and the 31st minutes, but Mercy broke through with only 12 seconds remaining in the first half. Mercy's Claudia McKail was in the right place at the right time as she finished a ball deflecting off a blocked shot to make it 1-0 heading into the half.
Mercy extended their lead in the 49th minute in the second half after a successful penalty kick by Nikki Bermudez. Mercy then scored again in the 55th minute and the 74th minute to make the score 4-0 Mavericks.
The Wildcats first shot in the second half was a goal by junior forward Rockesha Dayes, scoring her first goal of the season. The goal came in the 82nd minute as the Wildcats strung some one-touch passes together. Sophomore Alicia Whyte found freshman Ashante Wilson-Campbell in the offensive third. Wilson-Campbell then connected with Dayes through the middle just inside the box, as Dayes poked it passed the keeper.
The Wildcats earned another shot from a free kick by junior Samantha Emmi. Emmi had a great look at the goal from about 25 yards out, as she connected well with her shot, but it hit the crossbar in the 83rd minute.
The Mavericks put goal number five on the scoreboard in the game's closing minute. The Mavericks converted their final corner kick of the game, off of a header by Mercy's Toni Valadez. That corner was one of the 19 the Mavericks had in the game. The Mavericks were able to outshoot the Wildcats, 18-3.
The Wildcats will travel to New York on Wednesday night to take on Molloy at 7:00 PM, before returning home for their first Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference matchup of the season versus Caldwell on Sunday, September 11th.
