NEWARK, Del. - - In an evenly, hard fought contest, the Wilmington University women's soccer team held a halftime lead but a second half goal and two scoreless overtimes allowed Caldwell to earn a point as the two tied, 1-1, on Saturday afternoon on Homecoming at the WU Athletics Complex.
The Wildcats (3-4-1, 3-1-1 CACC) nearly regained the lead moments after Caldwell (4-2-2, 3-0-2 CACC) knotted the game, but a free kick by Kim Richer went off the Cougars' keeper and off the cross bar, staying out of the net in the second half.
In front of a record crowd on the second annual Wilmington University Homecoming, the Wildcats got on the board first in the contest, off the leg from Victoria Vasapolli. Richer, a freshman from Shamong, N.J., worked her way down the left side on a long run before crossing the ball with her left foot from the touch line. Finding Vasapolli in the middle of the 18-yard box, the junior buried her shot above the Caldwell goalkeeper to give the Wildcats the 1-0 lead at the 28:35 mark.
After the halftime break, the Cougars responded after a foul in the penalty box resulted in a Caldwell penalty kick. Going to her right side, the Cougars' Julie Crankshaw buried the opportunity to tie the game at 1-1 at the 54:54 mark of the match.
Immediately after the Wilmington draw, Vasapolli found herself one-on-one with the goalie on the left side, but her attempt was kick saved and then jumped on to keep the goal knotted at 1-1.
Two and a half minutes later, the Wildcats had a free kick from 24 yards out and straight on goal, but Richer's attempt was saved off the hands of Robin Franchi and stayed out.
Caldwell held the advantage 3-2 in shots in the overtime, but no true threat on either side resulted in a 1-1 tie after two 10 minute periods.
The Cougars outshot the Wildcats, 17-12, for the entire match, but Wilmington earned more corners, 7-6, in the contest.
Franchi and Wilmington goalkeeper Julia Brown each recorded seven saves in the draw.
The Wildcats remain inside the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference next week, but return to the road as they travel to Holy Family on Tuesday. The opening draw is scheduled for 4 p.m. in Philadelphia.