NEWARK, Del. - - Playing shorthanded starting early in the second half, sixth-seeded Dominican stormed back and stunned the No. 3 Wilmington University women's soccer team, 2-1, in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament First Round game on Monday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex.
With the win, the Chargers (8-8-2) advance to play in the CACC Tournament Semifinals, heading to No. 2 Caldwell on Thursday afternoon. The loss drops the Wildcats to 12-5-1 overall and now await the NCAA Division II Selection Show set for Monday, November 18.
The Wildcats got off to a fast start on Monday, getting on the board just 13 minutes in. Evelyn Payne made a run down the left side and fed Jordan Siok into the box. Siok took the ball towards the endline and laid it off. A hard-charging Sophia Filipowski one-timed it into the back of the net for her first collegiate career goal just 12:50 into the match.
Dominican nearly tied the match in the 34th minute, but the first shot was blocked and the rebound was punch up off the crossbar from Arianna Myers. Maria Leguizamon had a header off a corner that was saved at the post in the 45th minute, but the game went into the break with the Wildcats ahead, 1-0.
The Chargers' Kelly Harris received her second yellow car, resulting in a red card in the 49th minute. The Chargers would play a player-down the rest of the match.
But that wouldn't slow the Chargers down, as they responded by scoring the tying goal just three minutes later. Jessie Maraia got in behind the backline and tapped one past Myers who came off her line in the 52nd minute.
The Chargers kept battling, resulting in the go-ahead goal in the 78th minute. Kaitlyn Zeeb feathered a pass down the middle as Maraia was able to again get in behind the back line. She popped one up over the drawn-out Myers and the shorthanded Chargers moved in front.
Brianna Wons had a header off a free kick go high in the 81st minute and Ellie Lawrence put a free kick shot up over the bar in the 84th minute. The Wildcats didn't get another shot off as the Chargers came away with the win.
The Chargers led in shots, 12-10, including shots on goal, 8-5. Arianna Myers made five saves for the Wildcats.
Thursday's Semifinals are set to begin at 1:00 p.m. at the higher seeds.
