NEWARK, Del. - - A frustrating afternoon ended in favor of No. 15 Post University, 3-1, over Wilmington University as the top two Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference men's soccer teams battled for first place at the WU Athletics Complex on Saturday afternoon.
The Wildcats took an early 1-0 lead with a goal in the ninth minute of the game, but nine cards leading to two ejections shorthanded the Wildcats (8-3, 4-2, CACC) in the second half. Post (8-1, 6-1 CACC) took advantage after the halftime break, scoring all three goals to come away with the road win.
Post, ranked No. 15 in the latest NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division II National Top 25 poll, scored back-to-back goals in a 1:28 of game action, turning a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead in the 60th minute, turning the tide of the game.
When playing with a full team on the field, the Wildcats took it to the CACC leaders, capitalizing on their second shot of the early going. With the ball on the left side, Tommy Quaranta played an inside pass to Elton Joe around the 25 yard mark. Joe turned and let a bullet go from his right foot, beating Post goalkeeper Andre Lindsey to the upper right corner and into the back of the net. The goal was only the third goal the Eagles have let up all season.
But shortly after the Wildcats took the 1-0 lead, things started to unravel. Senior captain Matko Novak collected back-to-back yellow cards in an eight minute period, having the home team play a man down from the 17:43 mark on for the rest of the contest.
Post put a barrage of shots in the books towards the end of the first half, but even playing with 10 men, the Wildcats more than held their own for the remainder of the opening frame. After the first 45 minutes, Post edged the Wildcats, 6-5, in shots. The Wildcats also picked up three other yellow cards in the remainder of the first half.
Continuing to hold onto the 1-0 lead, the Wildcats held off the Eagles attack for the first 12 minutes of the second frame. But once the Eagles broke through, the floods came crashing down.
Francisco Sastre tied the match with his fourth goal of the season with a strike from inside the penalty box on the right side. Looking as he had the ball in his sights, Wildcat goalkeeper Frank Hall broke right on the initial shot, but the ball deflected off a Wildcat defender, changing the balls path. The ball snuck inside the near post, past a diving Hall who was trying to recover.
Reigning CACC Player of the Year Joe Baccielo capitalized while the Wildcats were recovering from the first goal. Not even a minute and a half later, Baccielo beat Hall to the upper right hand corner from the top of the 18-yard box, putting Post in from 2-1 at the 59:01 mark of the match.
Sastre was able to put the match away with his second goal of the game in the 72nd minute, beating Hall to his upper left once again from distance, giving the Eagles a 3-1 advantage.
The second half saw the Wildcats pick up three more yellow cards as well as a straight red card in the 70th minute, giving them a total of nine cards in the match. Post picked up a single yellow card late in the match. In the physical match, the Wildcats were whistled for 22 fouls to the Eagles' 10.
Post ended up leading the match in shots, 15-7, while also earning more corners, 6-2, while playing with a two-man advantage for the final 20 minutes.
Hall recorded two saves for the Wildcats while Lindsay needed two make two stops for the victory for the Eagles.
Wilmington continues its five match home stand with a contest against CACC rival Philadelphia on Tuesday. The game is slated for a 3:30 p.m. start at the WU Athletics Complex.