A fast start gave the Wilmington University women's soccer team a 3-1 victory over Nyack, sending the team's seniors off in style as they were honored prior to the game on Saturday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex.
It was the core of young players that put the Wildcats (4-11, 4-6 CACC) on the board, however, as freshman Carin Essex-Arline scored the game's first goal follow by a pair of goals by redshirt sophomore Jillian Porter to hold off Nyack (3-14, 3-8 CACC).
Essex-Arline put the Wildcats on the board first, putting home a rebound off the crossbar from Alexa Smalley in the ninth minute. Smally's shot form the left side of the 18-yard box skimmed off the cross bar and fell right to Essex-Arline on the back post. Essex-Arline slotted it home for her fourth goal of the season.
Porter gave the Wildcats a two-goal advantage prior to the halftime break after finding herself wide open in front of the goal following a cross from Chandler Lages. Wilmington led 2-0, 37:49 into the match.
Wilmington held a 10-1 advantage in shots through the first 45 minutes, earning more corners, 3-0, as well.
Nyack cut the deficit in half with a goal off a corner in the 58th minute s Katherine Oldfield tapped in a cross from Jessica Short at the far post for her second goal of the season. But that would be as close as the Warriors would get in the match.
The Wildcats regained momentum and went ahead by two goals once more in the 85th minute, getting another insurance goal from Porter. Kim Richer played a through ball on the left side to Lages. Once getting to the ball in space, Lages played the ball into the ball to a wide-open Porter in front of the net who slotted it home for her second goal of the match.
Wilmington's Julia Brown made one save in goal for the victory while Nyack's Brianna Bianchi recorded seven saves in the loss.
The Wildcats outshot the Warriors, 17-4, for the match and earned more corners, 5-1.
Wilmington makes up a postponed game at Goldey-Beacom on Monday in a match that could potentially determine a spot in the CACC Tournament. The makeup game on Monday is scheduled to start at 3 p.m.