Press Release written by Mitchell Coll
NEWARK, DEL. - - The Wilmington University women's soccer team opened its 2022 season at the WU Athletics Complex in a non-conference tilt against the Falcons of Bentley University. The Wildcats (0-0-1) ended the game in a 1-1 tie in their 2022 regular season opener.
The first half ended scoreless, thanks to the defensive play from both teams. Sophomore goalkeeper Mio Nakajima got the crowd on their feet with a spectacular save in the 25th minute, saving a 20-plus yard shot, while falling back and tipping the ball just enough for it to hit the crossbar. The save kept the zero on the board for Bentley. Wilmington faced five shots and all of Bentley's three corners in the first half in a defensive-sided first half.
The Wildcats put the pressure on early out of the locker room to start the second half with two shots by Hannah Osborne and Julia Yuhase in the 48th and 49th minutes.
Bentley struck first in the contest in the 53rd minute by intercepting a pass from the backline, causing the Wildcats to go down 1-0.
Wilmington answered back with some offensive pressure of their own with two back-to-back shots by Annie Holst and Emilie Larsen. Then a minute later in the 56th minute, the Wildcats earned a corner, which was one of their three corners in the second half.
After returning to the match in the 77th minute, sophomore Emilie Larsen tied the game with a left-footed strike that found the top left corner off a feed from senior Emily Navarrete. Larsen's goal marks the first goal of the year for the Wildcats and the first goal for Larsen in her career as a Wildcat.
After the goal tied the match, the Wildcats were able to fire off three more shots and one on goal by Julia Yuhase. Their final attempt was a corner kick by Hannah Osborne with 20 seconds left that Bentley was able to clear.
The Wildcats are right back into action on Sunday, August 28th when they take on Adelphi University at 2:30 at the WU Athletics Complex.
