NEWARK, Del. - - Carin Essex-Arline pounded in a rebound in the 97th minute to give the second seeded Wilmington University women's soccer team a 2-1 victory over seventh seeded Post in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Quarterfinals on Tuesday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex.
The win propels the Wildcats (13-5-1) to their second straight CACC Tournament Semifinal round, which will be played on Friday afternoon on the campus of Georgian Court University. Third seeded Holy Family defeated sixth seeded Caldwell, 1-0, setting up the Wildcats and Tigers in the semifinals.
The Wildcats gained control early in the contest against the Eagles, scoring the game's first goal in the sixth minute of action. Krysta Memis took the first shot of the contest, which resulted in the quick 1-0 lead for the home team. Loran Wyrough played a through ball down the middle, allowing Memis to get on the end of the ball in the box. Memis' shot from the right side of the box went to the far post for her sixth goal of the season just 5:31 into the match.
The Wildcats continued to pressure the Eagles in the first half, but couldn't find the back of the net again despite great looks from Preslie Quaranta in the 23rd minute and Alexa Smalley in the 44th minute.
The second half got off to a fast start as well, but it was Post that responded to tie the match, 1-1. Sabrina Adamo had the ball on the right endline, and passed the ball back to a wide-open Fenna Maarse on the near post. She beat Wilmington goalkeeper Kierstyn Williams to the near post from 10 yards out just 2:59 into the start of the second half.
The Wildcats continued to put the pressure on the Eagles throughout the half, getting a good look off a corner in the 54th minute, but Essex-Arline's header went wide left.
Loran Wyrough beat the offside's trap and found herself all alone in on the Post keeper in the 72nd minute, but Cailah Baranowski denied her the breakaway chance. Jessica Unsihuay's follow up chance dribbled just wide of the right post as well, keeping the score at 1-1.
The final chance for the Wildcats in regulation came in the 82nd minute, as a scramble in the box pushed all the players to the near post. Sticking on the back post, Ashley Cafarella found herself wide open with an empty net in front of her. But her two-touch shot was denied by an Eagle on the goal line, keeping the visitors alive.
Now into the overtime period, Wyrough gave the Wildcats their first chance to win it in the 93rd minute. But her half volley on a ball over the top went wide left.
On their eighth and final corner kick of the game, they made it happen. Smalley played the ball from the right corner, and Jessica Unsihuay played a ball back to Memis outside the box. Memis' lofted shot clanked off the crossbar and fell in the six-yard box. Essex-Arline was there to stuff home the rebound.
The Wildcats outshot the Eagles, 20-7, for the match, including 7-3 in the second half and 3-0 in the overtime period. Williams made two saves in the game for her 11th win while Baranowski made seven saves in the loss.
The Wildcats and Tigers advance to play in the CACC Tournament Semifinals on Friday afternoon at Georgian Court. They will be the second of two semifinal games, with the second games starting at approximately 1:30 p.m.
