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NEWARK, Del. - - For the first time since the 2021 season, the Wilmington University women's soccer team is headed back to the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Semifinal, defeating No. 5 Georgian Court, 2-0, on Saturday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex.
The fourth-seeded Wildcats scored a pair of second-half goals to defeat the Lions in the CACC Tournament Quarterfinal. With the win, the Wildcats advance to the semifinals and will face No. 1 seed and nationally ranked No. 10 Jefferson on Tuesday, November 11, at Ravenhill Field in Philadelphia.
The Wildcats controlled the pace of play in the first half, but the game still went into the halftime break scoreless. The Wildcats outshot the Lions, 6-0, with solid chances from Anneli Donath and Sierra Bartley.
It didn't take long for the Wildcats to find the back of the net in the second half, though, scoring on their first shot. Off a throw-in deep in the attacking zone, Sophia Filipowski got the ball back from Sierra Bartley and played a cross to the near post. Eboni Bradshaw was there waiting, redirecting the cross into the back of the net for her team leading 11th goal.
Sierra Bartley was able to ice the game in the 81st minute as the Wildcats countered off a punt from the Lions' goalkeeper. Indigo Kirk won the ball out of the air, and then Claudia Gillum poked it forward into space for Bartley. She won the race to the ball and then slipped one past the out-coming goalkeeper for her seventh goal of the year.
The Lions tried to press, getting six shots off in the second half, but Arianna Myers was there to make two saves, including one in the 86th minute, diving to her right to preserve the shutout. The Wildcats outshot the Lions, 12-6, in the game, and earned more corners, 6-3.
The semifinal round will be on Jefferson's campus at Ravenhill Field on Tuesday afternoon. The winner advances to the CACC Tournament Championship match at Post University on Saturday, November 15.
