NEWARK, Del. - - The Wilmington University women's soccer team opened its 2018 season with a difficult home game, but hung alongside nationally No. 15 Adelphi in a 1-0 loss on Friday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex.
With rainy and wet conditions for the majority of the game, the Wildcats (0-1) countered nearly every Adelphi (1-0) push with a push of their own, but the visitors were able to break through in the 52nd minute for the lone score of the game.
The majority of the first half was played between the 18-yard boxes with the Panthers narrowly outshooting the Wildcats, 3-1. The rain began towards the end of the first half and continued into the second half of play.
The Panthers came out of the locker room and put early pressure on the Wildcats to begin the second half. The first shot of the half was saved by goalkeeper Kate Tubo, but she couldn't corral a cross moments later leading to a loose ball in the box. The cross came in from the right side and Tubo came off her line and dove to knock the ball down. But the loose ball went right to the foot of Adelphi's Jacklyn Lada as she was able to slide it home for the 1-0 lead in the 52nd minute.
The Wildcats' best chance of the game came in the 75th minute on a set piece just outside of the 18-yard box. Rebecca Dolhansky's low blast got through the wall, but Panthers' goalkeeper Sarah Hofmeier was positioned at the far post and was able to scoop up the low shot.
The Panthers outshot the Wildcats, 9-2, and earned more corners, 4-0, in the match. Tubo made three saves for the Wildcats while Hofmeier recorded the one save in the second half.
The Wildcats remain at home to start the 2018 season, as they welcome Daemen to the WU Athletics Complex for their next contest. The two will play on Monday morning at 11:00 a.m. in Newark, Delaware.
