NEWARK, Del. - - Three second half goals pushed the 7th seeded University of Bridgeport past the 2nd seeded Wilmington University women's soccer team, 4-0, in the First Round of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament on Sunday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex.
With the win, the Purple Knights advance to the CACC Tournament Semifinals on Friday while the Wildcats (11-3-4) await the NCAA Selection Show to see if they earned one of the four at-large bids into the NCAA Tournament next Sunday.
The Purple Knights (8-7-3) got on the board early in the game, scoring on their second shot of the game in the sixth minute. Kate Thill got to the endline inside the box on the left side and played a cross to the front of the goal, finding teammate Tatianna Lizarraga for a tap in goal just 5:36 into the contest.
The Wildcats had their chances in the first half, as Alyssa Ruggeri's header was just high off a corner in the eight minute and Kailynn Ortiz's chance in the 32nd minute with an open goal couldn't be redirected on frame as well. Julia Yuhase had another great chance to tie the match in the 40th minute, but her effort was wide left as Bridgeport held onto a 1-0 lead at the halftime break.
The Wildcats had the first corner of the second half and the first two shots, but it was Bridgeport that capitalized on their first chance in the second half. Lizarraga tallied her second goal of the game in the 54th minute and then the Purple Knights put the game away in the 71st minute with an individual effort from Solune Moll. Bridgeport tacked on an additional goal in the 90th minute, making it 4-0.
Bridgeport led in shots, 13-11, despite the Wildcats earning more corners, 6-1. Bridgeport's goalkeeper Angelina Griva made five saves for the shutout while Mio Nakajima made one save.
The Wildcats are now at the mercy of the NCAA committee and will await the NCAA Selection Show next Sunday to see if they will earn a bid into the NCAA Tournament.