Press Release Written by Sports Information Graduate intern Mary Kate Rumbaugh
NEWARK, Del. – The 18th ranked Wilmington University men's soccer team stayed hot on Saturday, as it won it's eighth consecutive game to start the season with a 5-0 shutout over Dominican for Homecoming at the WU Athletics Complex.
Looking to get the sweep for Wilmington University athletics on Homecoming, the Wildcats (8-0-0, 3-0 CACC) got their third shutout of the season against Dominican (2-5, 0-2 CACC) to stay atop of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference. The win is the team's 15th consecutive victory for the Wildcats in games played at the WU Athletics Complex.
Wilmington seemed to start out slow within the first 10 minutes, but two corner kicks would start some momentum as Abdul Mansaray got two shots off, but were saved and blocked by the Chargers' defense. In the 17th minute of play, Shawn Genus would start the scoring for WilmU on a shot in front of the net for the first goal of the game, and celebrate with a backflip. Genus was able to step in front of a Chargers' clear attempt, getting a leg on the ball as it was deflected back into the net.
Five minutes later, Elliott Johnson made a perfect cross from the left corner into the middle of the box for Lorne Bickley who volleyed it out of the air to give the Wildcats a two-goal lead.
The Wildcats would take 11 shots within the first half, compared to the Chargers' two. Dominican would only get two more shots off in the second half, as Wilmington would go on to score their third goal of the game in the 76th minute thanks to a pass from Ben Jordan over the top for Bickley in the middle who played it pass Dominican's keeper. Bickley beat the Dominican to the ball well outside the box, slotting it past him and into the open net.
Shawn Genus would get into the mix again with his second goal of the game five minutes later on a shot from the top left corner inside the box to put WilmU up 4-0, before Ben Jordan finished the scoring out with a shot from 35 yards out.
Lorne Bickley and Shawn Genus would score two goals each, as Ben Jordan had one goal and one assist. Elliot Johnson collected his first assist of the season for the Wildcats, as they finished with 11 shots in the second half for a total of 22 on goal. Gabriel Prgomet made two saves in the net for his third shutout of the year.
The Wildcats have scored 21 goals in their past three contests.
WilmU will travel to Holy Family on Wednesday afternoon for a 3:30 p.m. matchup against the Tigers.
