LAFAYETTE HILL, Pa. - - The Wilmington University women's soccer team faced off against the Chestnut Hill Griffins under the lights Tuesday evening and earned a point with a 2-2 tie in their second Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference matchup of the season.
The Wildcats (2-3-2, 1-0-1 CACC) didn't waste any time getting on the board in the first half. In the 6th minute, Emily Navarette earned a corner off of a cross attempt. Gabbi Corchiani set up for the corner kick on the left side. Corchiani found Samantha Emmi, who started her run in the middle of the 18-yard line. Emmi made her run to the far post, and Corchiani's ball skimmed off the goalkeeper's hands but perfectly landed on Emmi's right foot to put the 'Cats up 1-0.
The Griffins (1-2-1, 0-1-1 CACC) didn't take long to answer back as they scored a minute later in the 7th minute off of offensive pressure that forced a turnover in the defensive third, leaving an opportunity open for the equalizer. The Griffins continued to keep the pressure on after their first goal. They earned two corner kicks in a minute. Mio Nakajima made a quick reaction save on the second corner in the 16th minute. Nakajima was able to extend her right foot to save a promising one-touch shot off the corner by the Griffins to keep it level.
One goal wasn't enough for Samantha Emmi as she converted on a direct kick in the 25th minute. Jhanae Colston did an excellent job controlling the ball at the top of the 18-yard box. As Colston went to make a cut with the ball, Colston was tripped up by Griffins' defense. The ref saw no clear advantage to play on, awarding the Wildcats the free kick on the right middle side of the field, about 19 yards out. Emmi stepped up to take the kick with a five-person wall. Her shot went right into the upper right corner to put the Wildcats up 2-1. Emmi has now converted on free-kick goals in back-to-back games.
The Wildcats went into the second half up 2-1. The Wildcats' first opportunity to look for goal number three came with a left-footed shot by Hannah Osborne in the 68th minute. However, Osborne's shot was saved by Griffin's keeper Kaitlyn Carter. The Wildcats had another opportunity in the 72nd minute as Julia Yuhase attempted a shot around 20 yards out with her left foot, but the shot was saved.
The Wildcats were caught offsides in the 84th minute. The Griffins successfully built a possession of play starting from the back line, connecting passes up the field into the 'Cats defensive third. The Griffins then got the equalizer off a hard and low shot in the 85th minute that found the bottom left corner of the net.
The Griffins outshot the Wildcats 18-7, but six of the Wildcat's shots were on goal. Nakajima came up with a season-high and career-high seven saves in net. The Wildcats will be back on Saturday, September 17th at 12 PM for a CACC Conference matchup against Dominican College at the WU Athletics Complex.