Copyright 2016; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo of Melissa Gall taken by Mae Hagan.
NEWARK, Del. - - The 18th ranked University of Bridgeport's Idoia Agirre scored all three goals en route to a 3-0 nonconference victory over the Wilmington University women's soccer team on Thursday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex.
Two of the goals came less than a minute a part in the first half for the Purple Knights (7-3) before they put the game away just 3:29 into the second half with their third goal. The Wildcats (6-5) were out shot, 15-4, in the match, but had opportunities in the second half, including hitting the crossbar once.
A misclear by the Wildcats' Kierstyn Williams led the Agirre's first goal, as her attempt went right into Agirre in the box. The Purple Knight collected the loose ball and her low shot found the back of the net for the 1-0 lead in the 25th minute. Just 29 seconds later, Agirre was at it again, this time getting a through ball from Hanne Neby down the left side.
After the break, the graduate student completed her hat trick with her third goal just 3:29 into the half. Agirre's first shot was stopped by Williams, but she was able to corral the rebound and find the back of the net for the 3-0 lead.
Teigha Ward gave the Wildcats a chance with pressure early in the second half, but her one shot in the 60th minute bounced back into the field of play inside of into the net. Ward brook loose down the left side and tried to shoot over the Purple Knight goalkeeper, clipped the bottom of the crossbar but the ball shot straight down and remained out of the goal.
Williams made seven saves for the Wildcats while backup Martina Stewart recorded one stop in her 13 minutes of play in the first half.
The Wildcats return to Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action on Saturday night when they head to Felician. The opening whistle is set for 6:00 p.m. at the Lyndhurst Recreation Complex in Lyndhurst, N.J.
