NEWARK, Del. - - In order to make the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament this weekend, the Wilmington University women's lacrosse team needed things to roll its way in its final regular season game, but CACC South Division leading Philadelphia capped a perfect conference season with a 21-9 victory over the Wildcats on Tuesday at the WU Athletics Complex.
Sitting a game behind Holy Family coming into today's contest, the Wildcats (9-8, 6-5 CACC) needed to defeat Philadelphia (15-1, 11-0 CACC) and have the Tigers fall at home to Chestnut Hill. Neither game went in favor of the Wildcats, as Wilmington had its season come to a close on Tuesday.
The Wildcats scored first on Tuesday, receiving a save from net minder Corinne Dries, a good clear attempt, and a goal from Megan Keffer in the first 2:31 of the game to take the early lead.
But the Rams retaliated with 10 straight goals in the first half, tying the game at the 26:23 mark before taking the lead with 25:25 to play. Emily Ray capped the 10-goal run for the Rams with a goal with 11:46 to play in the half, giving the visitors a 10-1 lead.
Rebekah McCurry scored her 37th of the season with 9:19 to play, starting a streak of five of the next six goals for the Wildcats. Ashley Kroll, Keffer, and Katie Spence finished the half with three straight goals to bring the Wildcats deficit to 11-5 at the break.
Penelope Fantis scored her lone goal of the game to kick off the second half, bringing the Wildcats to within five in the first 34 seconds of the second half.
But once again, the Rams retaliated from giving up the first goal of the half and scored the next eight goals, taking a commanding 19-6 lead with 17:32 left in regulation.
Maddie Hewitt, Gabby Spalt, and Keffer scored the next three goals in the game, but it was too little too late for the Wildcats as there wasn't enough time on the board to cut it any closer.
Keffer recorded a hat tick for the Wildcats while McCurry finished with a team high four points with a goal and three assists. Allison Brian scored six goals for the Rams while Emily Ray added another five marks.
Dries made nine save in goal for the Wildcats while Kristen Moran picked up the win for the Rams with three save in less than 48 minutes of play. Maria Matteis came on and finished the final 12:28 of the game, making two stops in the process.
The Rams move to the CACC Tournament this weekend hosted by Chestnut Hill and will face the North Division's No. 2 seed Dominican. Holy Family will take on the North's top seed Georgian Court in the other CACC Semifinal.