LAKEWOOD, N.J. - - The Wilmington University women's soccer team was unable to knock Georgian Court from the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference unbeatens, falling, 2-1, on Wednesday afternoon.
A pair of early goals led the Lions (8-3-2, 7-0 CACC) to a victory, despite the Wildcats (6-5-1, 5-2 CACC) collecting more shots and earning more corners in the match.
It didn't take long for the Lions to get on the board, as they scored on their first opportunity. Kaitlin Lister finished off a pass deflected off the defense by Lauren Mendez, giving the home team the 1-0 lead just 59 seconds into the match.
Georgian Court made it 2-0 just moments later when Lizzy Krron headed in a cross from Lister for her sixth goal of the year in the ninth minute.
The Wildcats put on the offensive pressure after that, getting the next four shots off in the game. But it wasn't until the 29th minute that he Wildcats cut the deficit in half. A Lion foul set up a Wildcats' free kick and Krysta Memis was able to get on the end of a loose ball in the box, finishing off her fourth goal of the year.
Preslie Quaranta hit the crossbar in the 39th minute and Carin Essex-Arline's follow-up opportunity sailed high as the Wildcats finished off the rest of the first half in outshooting the Lions, 5-0.
The Lions outshot the Wildcats, 7-5, in the second half, but neither team was able to find the back of the net. The Wildcats ended up outshooting the Lions, 15-11, for the match. The final four shots of the match came from the Wildcats, however, but Taylor Mocknis, Rebecca Dolhansky, Memis, or Quaranta weren't able to solve Natalie Axelsson to tie the game.
Axelsson made five saves for the win while Kierstyn Williams recorded two stops in goal for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats return home for their next match, as they play host to Dominican during the 2017 Wilmington University Homecoming Weekend. The women's soccer team follows the volleyball match, scheduled for a 12:30 p.m. start on the turf.
