NEWARK, Del. - - Georgian Court scored the game-tying goal with four seconds left, stunning the Wilmington University women's soccer team by coming back twice in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest, 3-3, at the WU Athletics Complex on Tuesday afternoon.
The Wildcats (6-1-5, 3-0-4 CACC) scored twice in the first half, but the Lions (2-8-1, 1-4-1 CACC) answered with quick goals to start the second half. The Wildcats regained the lead with a goal in the 81st minute, but the Lions never quit, sneaking one into the back of the net with less than five seconds left to earn the tie.
Georgian Court controlled the first 10 minutes of the game, putting pressure on the Wildcats' back line, forcing them into turnovers in their own end.
The Wildcats' first shot of the afternoon found the back of the net, not coming until the 25th minute. Sierra Bartley collected a throw in and played it back to Anneli Donath. Her initial attempt was stuffed, but it bounced right to Claudia Gillum. She one-timed it into the top corner from just outside the 18-yard box for her second of the year.
Sierra Bartley then showed off her skills in the 44th minute, blasting home a long shot from 25 yards out for the 2-0 lead. Natalia Sartor raced to a free ball in the middle of the field and played it forward to Bartley. She got it to her preferred right foot and let it go, scoring her third goal of the year.
The Lions mixed up their lineup to start the second and it paid off, scoring 35 seconds into the half and again 3:36 into the second to quickly tie the game, 2-2. The Lions had a chance in the 66th minute on an open frame, but Julia Eichenbaum's attempt went high and wide, keeping the game tied.
Evelyn Payne had a chance in the 72nd minute, getting in alone on goal. But she hit the crossbar and the ball stayed out. She would get another chance in the 81st minute and wouldn't miss. The Wildcats won possession off a punt and worked it to Mary Kahraman in the middle of the field. She slipped a pass to Payne at the top of the 18 and her first touch played her in on goal. She wouldn't miss this one, scoring her third goal of the year to put the Wildcats up 3-1 with 9:05 to play.
The Wildcats held off the Lions for the next nine minutes, but won a throw-in with 17 seconds left. The Wildcats couldn't clear the ball far enough down field and the Lions knocked it back towards the 18-yard box. A flick-on and a one-touch on goal snuck under Arianna Myers and the Lions tied the game with three seconds showing on the scoreboard.
Georgian Court led in shots, 18-14, for the game, including 9-7 in shots on goal. The Wildcats took more corners, 5-2. Arianna Myers made six saves for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats are on the road for their next two games, heading to CACC leading Caldwell on Saturday. The opening kick is set for 12:00 p.m. in Caldwell, New Jersey.