ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. - - For the first time since 2010, the Wilmington University women's soccer team is starting the season 2-0, defeating Bentley, 1-0, on Saturday morning at the RVC Sports Complex on the campus of Molloy University.
The Wildcats (2-0) and Falcons (1-1) have played in every season since 2021, but this was the first time the Wildcats got the best of the Falcons, and are now 1-2-2 all-time against Bentley.
The game was evenly played with both teams getting 10 shots off in the game. The Wildcats led in shots, 7-6, with one important shot finding the back of the net in the 37th minute. Maria Leguizamon broke free from all defenders on a corner kick and headed home the ball from Caylay Winters for the 1-0 lead. It was the second of back-to-back corners for the Wildcats, with Leguizamon's first attempt being saved just a moment prior.
The Wildcats' netminder Arianna Myers needed to make a last second save to send the Wildcats into the halftime break with the 1-0 lead. She then made two saves in the second half, one in the 47th minute and again in the 79th minute to secure her first shutout of the season. She made six saves int eh game.
Wilmington locked down the defense in the final eight minutes of play, going down a player due to a second yellow. But Bentley could only get one shot off in the 87th minute, sailing wide of the frame.
The Wildcats come home for their next three games, starting with their own four-team tournament at the WU Athletics Complex next weekend. They welcome Jefferson, Saint Anselm, and Southern New Hampshire to Newark next weekend for two games. They host Saint Anselm on Friday with a 4:00 p.m. start.