NEWARK, Del. - - Bridgeport had an answer for every goal by the Wilmington University men's soccer team, as the pair played to a 2-2 draw in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action on Saturday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex.
The draw extends the Wildcats unbeaten streak to five straight, giving them 10 points in the CACC with a 3-2-1 record and in fifth place. The Wildcats at 5-4-3 overall on the year.
The Wildcats had a pair of leads on Saturday, starting with their first shot of the contest in the fourth minute. A foul by the Purple Knights set up a free kick on the right side for Max Norden. Norden sent a ball to the top of the 6-yard box and Troy Paul came out of the mix as the one who redirected it into the back of the net just 3:11 into the game.
Tyrese Small had the next best opportunity for the Wildcats in the first half, blasting a low shot in the 35th minute that needed to be blocked away by the Purple Knight goalkeeper. The Wildcats went into the locker room with a 1-0 lead.
Bridgeport came out of the break on a mission, playing in the Wildcats' defensive half for the opening 15 minute. It resulted in the tying goal in the 61st minute, as Lucas Mah turned a misclear into goal.
Troy Paul was the recipient of a pass into the box again in the second, burying his second goal of the game in the 81st minute. A deflected pass bounced to Sora Noda in the middle of the attacking third and he played a perfect one-timer pass into the top of the box for Paul. Paul took the one-time shot and beat the Bridgeport goalkeeper to his right to give the Wildcats the lead once more.
But the Wildcats couldn't hang onto the lead, as Bridgeport fought back once again. A foul set up the Purple Knights with a free kick deep in the corner. The ball came into the congested box and Joao Miranda got a head on it to tie the game, 2-2, with exactly 5:00 minutes remaining.
The Wildcats didn't have their usual output of shots in this game, as Bridgeport led in the category, 13-9. Wilmington had the 5-3 advantage in corners, however. Charlie Phillips made three saves in goal for the tie.
The Wildcats stay inside the CACC the rest of the way, starting with another home game on Wednesday. The Wildcats welcome Chestnut Hill to the Complex for a 3:30 p.m. start.