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NEWARK, Del. - - Michiharu Takanashi tapped in a rebound in the second overtime of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament First Round game on Sunday, leading the third seeded Wilmington University men's soccer team to a 3-2 victory over sixth seeded Felician at the WU Athletics Complex.
With the win, the Wildcats (11-3-4) advance to the CACC Tournament Semifinals and will face No. 2 Bridgeport on the road on Wednesday afternoon. The Purple Knights score two goals in the second half to defeat No. 7 Dominican and earn the right to host.
The two programs played a tight contest in the regular season in Rutherford, New Jersey, with the Wildcats squeaking out a 2-1 victory with a penalty kick in the 89th minute. Sunday was the same as both teams battled and had chances.
Felician scored first in the game, finding the back of the net off a corner in the 12th minute. The initial corner was punched away by Emil Lollike but Ayato Keneko volleyed the loose ball from outside the 18-yard box towards goal. Sam Harrison stopped it initially with a header, but the ball landed on the goal line and spun in for the 1-0 lead.
The Wildcats answered in the 28th minute, scoring off a corner of their own. They played a short corner, and it came back to Jacques Mason outside the box. He crossed it to the back post, finding Tyrese Small with the header for his second goal of the year.
Wilmington would get another before the halftime break, as Matthew Yi sent a rocket into the back of the net from 25 yards out. Takanashi had a shot saved from in close and the clearance fell to Yi. He stepped into a shot and knuckled it home for the 2-1 lead with three minutes to play in the half.
Felician wasn't done though, as expected with the two highest scoring teams in the CACC. They found the equalizer with 5:09 to play, scoring off a long throw-in. The ball came to the near post, flicked up and over the defense and Matt Greenway redirected it off the post and into the net for his first goal of the year and the 2-2 draw.
The Wildcats had four shots while Felician had one in the first overtime, but the game moved onto a second period. Alex Tarway was fouled outside the box on the right wing and Theo Faillon stepped over the ball. He delivered it into the box and Sam Harrison was first to it. His header was saved but Michiharu Takanashi was there to tap in the rebound to give the Wildcats the 3-2 victory.
The Wildcats led in shots, 20-10, and in corners taken, 9-5. Emil Lollike made three saves in the win.
Wednesday's semifinal will be hosted at the University of Bridgeport, with the opening whistle set for 1:00 p.m. The winner will advance to the CACC Tournament Championship match held next Saturday on the campus of Post University.
