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NEWARK, Del. - - The Wilmington University women's soccer team snapped a seven-game winless streak on Tuesday in its final nonconference contest of the season, defeating St. Thomas Aquinas, 3-0, at the WU Athletics Complex.

The Wildcats (3-7-4 overall) were 0-4-3 in their previous seven matches, winning for the first time since a 2-0 win against Caldwell on September 11. It is the ninth game this season in which the Wildcats scored first.

Julia Yuhase had the game's first chance in the 18^th minute, muscling the defender off and ran in on goal. The ball beat the goalkeeper but hit square off the right goalpost, staying out of the net. Anna Ljuljic put a left footed blast on frame in the 21^st minute, but her shot was rejected by the Spartans goalkeeper to keep the game scoreless.

An inconspicuous play led to the Wildcats' first goal of the game, as the Spartans played the ball all the way back to their goalkeeper with less than four minutes to play in the first half. Kailey Hyland wasn't putting full pressure on the keeper, but the clearance came right to her, and she was immediately in a one-on-one on goal. she slotted the goalkeeper from outside the 18-yard box for her first goal of the season, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead going into the halftime break.

Gianna Bucs had two chances in the 64^th minute after Annie Holst played her free on the back post with an excellent cross. Bucs first attempt was stopped by the Spartans netminder, but she left a juicy rebound for Bucs. But the Spartans defender stepped in and cleared Bucs second attempt off the line, keeping the game at 1-0.

Mio Nakajima made back-to-back saves in the 71^st minute, the first off a freekick and then making a stop on the near post on the rebound, keeping the Spartans off the board.

Emilie Larsen gave the Wildcats some breathing room in the 75^th minute. Off a Spartan goal kick, Alicia Whyte intercepted a pass and played it forward to Anastasia Diakos. Diakos tapped it back to Sammie Bennett who played it to the middle of the field which freed Larsen into the box. Larsen beat the keeper for her sixth of the season in the 75^th minute.

Larsen had another chance in the 80^th minute, but Spartan goalkeeper Colleen Stevens punched it over the crossbar with a diving effort. Larsen would get another opportunity in the 88^th minute, however.

The high pressure worked again for the Wildcats, as they turned a free kick coming out into a goal. Sammie Bennett stole the clearance and played Hannah Schwartz in the middle of the field. She played a ball into the box for Emilie Larsen who beat on defender and found the back of the net, capping the scoring at 3-0.

The Wildcats outshot the Spartans, 24-9, for the game, including 12-5 in shots on goal. Mio Nakajima made five saves to record her second shutout of the season.

The Wildcats return to the WU Athletics Complex and to Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action on Saturday against Felician. They start a doubleheader with a 12:00 p.m. first whistle.