The four-game skid came to a stop for the Wilmington University men's soccer team on Saturday, defeating Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference foe Bloomfield, 3-1, on the strength of Samuel Naiwo's two goals on Saturday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex.
Wilmington (7-5, 4-3 CACC) outshot the Bears (3-8, 3-4 CACC), 11-4, for the match, using 16 corner kicks to keep the pressure on the visitors throughout the entire match.
Naiwo's first two-goal game of his Wilmington career came at a good time, ending a four-game skid and giving the Wildcats an outcome with more than one goal for the first time in four games as well.
The junior put the Wildcats on the board early in the contest, giving the home team the lead in the 16th minute. Jordon Ellison toe poked the ball ahead of him and into the box on the right side, allowing Naiwo to run onto it. Naiwo was able to beat Bloomfield goalkeeper Wilson Cisneros to the near side, sneaking the shot inside the near post for the 1-0 lead.
Later in the first half, the Wildcats struck again, capitalizing on one of their six corners in the first half. The initial threat was cleared out of the box on the corner opportunity, but Femi Akintunde was at the top of the 'D' to keep the ball in play. His long distance shot was redirected by senior Pedro Moreira and dribbled into the open net at the 33:25 mark of the match.
Moments later, however, the Bears were able to get one back, converting on a penalty kick opportunity following a foul in the box by Adrian Tash. Wilmington goalkeeper Frank Hall guessed correctly and got two hands on the penalty kick chance by Bloomfield's Rafique Roberts, but the ball squirted past Hall and into the net with 15:10 remaining in the first half.
A strong buildup from the mid-field resulted in Naiwo wide open at the top of the box early in the second half, and the junior buried home his second goal of the match. Ellison and Steven O'Connor teamed up with Naiwo to work the ball up the field and a perfect one-time pass from O'Connor found Naiwo in the box. Naiwo's third goal of the season came in the 51st minute of the match.
Naiwo's second half goal was more than enough for the Wildcats, as Hall was needed to make just two saves for the victory.
The Wildcats will look to keep the momentum from Saturday's match as they take to the road next week, first when they head to cross-town rival Goldey-Beacom on Tuesday. The opening draw is schedule for 3:30 p.m. in Wilmington.