NEWARK, Del. - - The Wilmington University women's soccer team had its four match unbeaten streak come to an end as Dowling shutout the Wildcats, 2-0, in non-conference action on Tuesday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex.
A goal in each half allowed Dowling (8-2-1) to leave Newark with the victory, as the Golden Lions used both keepers, Melissa Guglielmo and Sara Sullivan, to record four saves for the shutout. Wilmington (6-5-2), which was 3-0-1 in its previous four matches, was shutout for only the second time this year. The Golden Lions have now defeated the Wildcats in each of the last four years.
The Wildcats had the first opportunity to get on the board in the first half, but the Golden Lion starting goalkeeper, Guglielmo, went high up for a shot by Brittany Rhodes in the sixth minute to punch the ball away from the goal and over the crossbar out of bounds for a corner kick. Wilmington was unable to capitalize on the ensuing corner early in the contest.
Dowling controlled the next portion of the match, earning the next three corners in a row and putting two shots on goal in the next 15 minutes. The second shot on goal happened to be the eventual game-winning goal.
Following a shot by Dowling and a save from Amanda Walters, the Wildcats turned over the ensuing punt, giving the ball back to the Golden Lions at midfield. Reyhan Taskale controlled the ball and passed it over to the right side to Kayla Mueger outside the 18-yard box. With Walters playing off her line, Mueger lofted a shot from 25 yards out that beat Walters to the line and over her outstretched arms for the game's first goal in the 26th minute.
Before the halftime whistle rang, the Wildcats could only get two more shots off, heading into the break trailing 1-0.
The Golden Lions came out and controlled the early portion of the second half, as the Wildcats weren't able to get their first shot off until 17th minute of the second half, a shot by Chelsea Grace that was wide of the frame.
Dowling opened the match up with another goal in the second half, scoring on a set play from the right side. On a free kick outside the right side of the 18-yard box, Gabriella D'Aprile served a ball to the near post, finding the head of Lindsey Thompson. She beat Walters to the near post for her fourth goal of the season, giving the visitors a 2-0 lead in the 70th minute.
Guglielmo and Sullivan combined to make four saves on the afternoon, as Sullivan came on in the 80th minute to finish out the contest. Walters made six stops in the loss.
The Wildcats recorded nine shots, as Rhodes finished with four shots and three shots on goal. Morgan Fraczkowski tallied the other lone shot on goal for the home team.
Wilmington remains out of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference for one more contest, as they head to LIU Post on Thursday for its final non-conference match of the season. The Wildcats return to the CACC on Saturday as they travel to Felician for a night game at 5:30 p.m.
