Press Release Written by Sports Information Graduate Intern Mary Kate Rumbaugh
NEWARK, Del. – Three goals in the first half and two in the second would help No. 16 Wilmington University men's soccer team hold off Caldwell, 5-2, on Saturday afternoon at the Complex.
The Wildcats (12-1-1, 5-1-1 CACC) would jump out to a fast start, as they had their third corner kick in the first five minutes of play. Already with six corners throughout the first 18 minutes of play, Taiki Kinugawa got the Wildcats going, as he made a centering ball through the middle to Lorne Bickley, who got a shot off past the Cougars' (2-10, 2-6 CACC) keeper to give WilmU the first goal of the game.
Within the next five minutes, Wilmington got off two more shots, including a header from Bickley that was snagged out of the air by Caldwell's goalkeeper. Kinugawa then took a free kick for the Wildcats from about 30 yards out, finding Joe Bell on the right post to head it in and give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead.
Wilmington would have their 11th corner of the half in the 40th minute of play, but it wasn't until a minute later that Hakim Williams would turn defense into offense and race down the sideline past the Cougars defenseman to get a shot off and give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead into halftime.
Caldwell would come into the second half with more urgency, as they made it a 3-1 ballgame just 10 minutes into the half off a free kick at the top of the box. Lorne Bickley would answer for the Wildcats for his NCAA Division II leading 19th goal of the season, thanks to a ball from Elliott Johnson in the 64th minute to give WilmU back a three goal lead.
The Cougars would strike once more in the 71st minute to make it a 4-2 ballgame, but Hakim Williams got behind a cross from Nick Langat with a diving header to make it a 5-2 game five minutes later.
Bickley and Williams would net two goals each in the contest, as Joe Bell connected on his fourth of the season. Taiki Kinugawa made two assists, as Elliott Johnson and Nick Langat also had an assist. Gabriel Prgomet made five saves on seven shots in the net.
Wilmington will travel to Chestnut Hill on Tuesday night for a 7:00 p.m. matchup with the Griffins. The contest will be played at Victory Field #1 at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School.
