NUTLEY, N.J. - - A 3-0 victory over Felician secured one of the top two seeds in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament for the Wilmington University women's soccer team, as Alyssa Ruggeri scored twice on Saturday night at Nutley High School.
With one game to play in the regular season, the Wildcats (10-2-4, 7-1-2 CACC) now have 23 points and have locked up at least second place. The Wildcats would need help from Jefferson dropping their final two games of the regular season to claim the top spot. The Wildcats wrap up the regular season on Tuesday afternoon at crosstown rival Goldey-Beacom.
On Saturday night, the Wildcats outshot the Golden Falcons (0-11-3, 0-8-1 CACC), 23-10, including 11-5 in the first half, but only scored once before the halftime break. Evelyn Payne scored her sixth goal of the season in the 35th minute, finishing off a run down the right side off a through ball from Amelia Aquino.
Out of the halftime break, Alyssa Ruggeri had a header off a corner saved and Julia Yuhase and Anna Ljuljic had shots blocks in the first three minutes. Ruggeri would eventually get another chance off a corner, this time burying the chance off the corner from Gabbi Corchiani in the 55th minute.
Ruggeri was on the attack again following her goal, coming up with three of the Wildcats next five shots in a five minute span. But it was her fourth shot at the end of the run that added to the Wildcats' lead, getting on the end of Brianna Wons free kick in the 64th minute. Alyssa Ruggeri now has six goals and 15 points on the season, with 11 points coming in the last four games.
Mio Nakajima played the first 69 minutes before giving way to Nadine Robberts. Arianna Myers stepped in for the final six minutes of the game as all three goalkeepers helped the Wildcats to their fifth shutout of the season.
The win was the 10th win of the season and the 10th time in the program's NCAA era (2004) they've won double digit games in a season.
The Wildcats and Lightning are set to start at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon at Goldey-Beacom.