NEWARK, Del. - - The Wilmington University women's lacrosse team doubled its goal scoring in the second half but Philadelphia was able to fend off a late game rally, winning the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest, 14-9, at the WU Athletic Conference on Wednesday afternoon.
Five different Wildcats (0-10, 0-4 CACC) recorded at least one goal, scoring six goals in the second half, but it wasn't enough as Philadelphia (7-4, 5-0 CACC) won for the fifth time in its last six games overall.
Sophomore Rebekah McCurry led the Wildcats with three second half goals while sophomore Megan Keffer carried the offense in the first half with two goals. Junior Jessica Stratton also tallied two goals for the Wildcats while Jaclyn Hall and Brittany Rhodes rounded out the Wilmington scoring with one goal each.
Philadelphia was led by a pair of goal scorers in Liz Mower and Libby Nichols who recorded five goals apiece. Mower tied a season high with her five goals, adding two assists for seven points. Mower added three of her goals in the second half, securing the Rams' victory. Nichols put in a season high five goals, recording a hat trick in the first half.
Turnovers plagued the Wildcats, as they gave up 26 possessions while only forcing Philadelphia into 19 turnovers. The Rams outshot the Wildcats, 30-19, while also picking up four more ground balls, 23-19, for the game. Philadelphia committed 40 fouls, 25 in the second half, but that only turned into four second half free-position shots, which Wilmington converted two into goals.
After the Wildcats scored back-to-back goals late in the first half to cut the deficit to 6-3, the Rams used a three goal run to stretch their lead back out to a 9-3 lead. The Rams ended the half with a goal with 24 seconds left in the first half before scoring the first two goals of the second half to widen the margin.
Wilmington then scored three of the next four goals to close the gap to 10-6 with 16:57 remaining in regulation, but could only go back and forth in goals for the rest of the contest. Every time the Wildcats scored a goal to inch closer, the Rams responded with a goal before any fires were truly lit on the comeback.
Wilmington net-minder Kaitlyn Hall recorded 12 saves, six in each half, in the loss. Rams goalkeeper Felicia Branagan stopped seven Wildcats shots in the win.
Wednesday for the first of three straight home games for the Wildcats, as they next host Nyack on Saturday. The opening draw against the first-year program is set for 1:00 p.m. at the WU Athletics Complex.