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NEWARK, Del. - - A goal in the 73^rd minute sent the Wilmington University women's soccer team to its first ever victory over Bridgeport, 2-1, in a tightly contested Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference matchup on Saturday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex.

In a matchup of regionally ranked teams, the Wildcats 7-2-2, 5-1 CACC) struck first with an early second half goal. Bridgeport (5-4-3, 3-3-1 CACC) tied the game in the 64^th minute, but then Emilie Larsen scored the game-winner in the 73^rd minute. It was the first victory over Bridgeport in 13 tries, and the team's fifth in a row on the season.

Using the wet turf, both teams had good chances in the first half, skipping shots in on goal. But both netminders were up to the task, sending the game into the break scoreless.

The rain may have had a hand in the game's opening goal as Brianna Wons scored off a free kick for the second game in a row. From 40 yards out, Wons sent a ball to the top of the 18-yard box. A Bridgeport defender got a head on the ball, but it skimmed off the top and went towards goal. The ball bounced once before the goalkeeper had it slip between her legs and trickled over the goal line for the 1-0 lead in the 52^nd minute.

Bridgeport tied it up in the 64^th minute, getting a tremendous individual effort from Solune Moll on the left side. She eventually sent a cross to the back post, finding Tatianna Lizarraga who headed it home to tie the game.

The eventual game-winner came in the 73^rd minute, as Alyssa Ruggeri made a distracting run in front of the goalkeeper, allowing Emilie Larsen's cross to find the back of the net. Manuela Restrepo played Larsen out wide on the right. Larsen sent a dangerous early cross into the box, looking for Ruggeri. Ruggeri cut in front of the goalkeeper, who had to hold her line in case Ruggeri played the ball. But the ball skipped past Ruggeri and the goalkeeper, finding the far post for the 2-1 lead.

Bridgeport had a chance to tie the game in the 77^th minute off a free kick in the corner. Kate Thill grot around her defender and headed a ball on frame, but Mio Nakajima was up to the task, keeping the Wildcats in front.

Alyssa Ruggeri and Amelia Aquino nearly put the game away in the 82^nd minute, but Bridgeport goalkeeper Antia Lopez made back-to-back stops form close range.  

Wilmington led in shots, 13-11, but Bridgeport had the advantage in shots on goal, 7-5. Mio Nakajima made six saves for the win.

The Wildcats put their five-game winning streak on the line on Tuesday afternoon, when they welcome Chestnut Hill to the WU Athletics Complex for another CACC contest. The opening whistle is set for 3:30 p.m.