Copyright 2016; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. File photo taken by James Jones.
BEAR, Del. - - It took the entire 90 minutes but the Wilmington University women's soccer team knocked off Georgian Court, 3-2, in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference clash on Tuesday night at Bob Peoples Stadium at Caravel Academy.
Trying to hold on down the stretch, the Wildcats (6-4, 5-2 CACC) couldn't get the ball out of their own 18-yard box in the waning seconds. The ball ended in the back of the net as time expired, but a foul was called on Georgian Court (7-3, 6-1 CACC) for running into the goalkeeper, ending any chance of a tied game.
The end of the game was a representation of the entire game, as both teams battled back and forth throughout.
The Lions struck first in the first half, taking a Wildcat turnover in the backfield and taking a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute. Amanda Astudillo noticed Wildcat goalkeeper Kierstyn Williams off her line and immediately took a shot from distance.
The Wildcats were able to tie the match in the 33rd minute, converting on one of their four corner kicks in the first half. After the corner was taken, the ball was headed in the box multiple times, but never cleared. The ball eventually found the back post and the head of Valerie Bragg who put it in the back of the net for her first collegiate career goal.
The Wildcats came out of the gate in the second half with a purpose and put the pressure on the Lions in the early going. The Wildcats' first shot of the half put the home team in front, as Teigha Ward slipped through the back line of the defense. Gabrielle Perry played the ball over the top of the back line, giving Ward a chance in behind the defense. Ward cut the ball back to her left foot and shot from just inside the 18-yard box, giving the Wildcats a 2-1 lead in the 48th minute.
Another scramble in the box completely swung the momentum into the Wildcats favor, as they extended the lead in the 79th minute. Another Rebecca Dolhansky corner resulted in the ball being on the foot of Loran Wyrough and she buried her shot for her sixth goal of the year.
The Lions were able to stay in the match late, scoring in the 88th minute to cut the deficit to 3-2. Although the Wildcats struggled to fully clear the ball in the final two minutes, they held on to give the Lions their first conference loss.
The Lions outshot the Wildcats, 10-8, but the Wildcats held the advantage in corners, 6-2. Williams recorded five saves on the night, including tipping one away while backtracking in the first half, for the win. Georgian Court's Natalie Axelsson made three saves on the night.
The Wildcats return to action on Thursday afternoon when they host Bridgeport at the WU Athletics Complex. The opening whistle is slated for 3:30 p.m.
