News Release
Contact
Daniel Lauletta
Coordinator of Sports Info,
Athletics
320 DuPont Highway
New Castle, DE
19720
(302) 356-2020
daniel.j.lauletta@wilmu.edu
No. 5 Seed Wilmington head to No. 4 Bloomfield in CACC Men’s Soccer Tournament
Tied with Philadelphia University and Bloomfield College in third place with 18 points, tie breakers send the Wilmington University men’s soccer team on the road as the No. 5 seed in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Quarterfinals, facing Bloomfield on Monday at 12 p.m.The game, which was originally scheduled to be played on Tuesday at 2 p.m. was pushed back to Monday due to the threat of Hurricane Sandy. Fans that cannot make the trip to Bloomfield, N.J. can follow the action through Wilmington’s live Twitter updates; @WilmUAthletics
Weather.com Report:
Frankenstorm, also known as Hurricane Sandy, looks to be a factor in Bloomfield, N.J. on Monday with temperatures reaching as high as 58 degrees. The weather reports on Saturday state there is a 100 percent chance of rain in the area on Monday, with winds gusting up to 34 miles per hour heading northeast. Tropical storm conditions are also possible from Sandy on Monday. Any cancellation or postponement will immediately be updated on www.wilmu.edu/athletics and on twitter at @WilmUAthletics.
The Series:
Monday will be the 11th meeting between the two programs since the Wildcats joined the NCAA Division II ranks prior to the 2004 season. The Deacons won this season’s regular season , 1-0, in double overtime, but the Wildcats still lead the all-time series, 6-3-1. Wilmington won last year at Bloomfield, 5-4, in double overtime, the last matchup in Bloomfield in the series. The only other matchup in the CACC Tournament came in 2009, as each team played to a 0-0 draw after two overtimes. The Deacons moved on to the championship with a 4-2 win in penalty kicks.
The Last Meeting Between the Teams:
The teams met up earlier this year in one of the heart wrenching game the Wildcats played all season, at least at home at the WU Athletics Complex. On September 15, capping the athletic events to the first ever Wilmington University Homecoming celebration, Bloomfield snuck away from Newark with a 1-0 win, scoring the goal on their only chance with 27 seconds left in the second overtime. The Wildcats held a 17-9 shot advantage in the match, and earned 10 corners to the Deacons one, but couldn’t find the back of the net. The Wildcats could only get three of their shots on goal during the 109:33 of action. Bloomfield’s Kemar Richards took a long ball out of the back on a counter, going one-on-one with goalkeeper Chad Jenkins for the game-winner.
All-Time Record in CACC Tournament:
Ninth year head coach Nick Papanicolas has led his team into the CACC Tournament in each of his seasons at the helm of the Wildcats, winning it all in 2007. Overall, the Wildcats are 2-6-2 in the CACC Tournament since joining the NCAA Division II ranks prior to the fall of 2004.
In 2004, the Wildcats earned the No. 4 seed in the tournament but fell to Caldwell, 3-1, in the first round. They also dropped an opening contest in 2005, losing 2-1 in overtime as the No. 6 seed to Felician.
In 2006, the Wildcats earned a first round bye by earning the Tournament’s No. 2 seed, but fell to third seeded Post, 1-0, in the CACC Semifinals.
The Wildcats again earned a first round bye in 2007, taking the No. 2 seed once again. This time, the team defeated third seeded Caldwell, 1-0, in overtime to advance to the CACC Championship. Tied with No. 4 Holy Family after two overtime periods, the Wildcats won the Championship by claiming the penalty kick shootout, 5-3.
Looking to repeat as Tournament Champions in 2008, the Wildcat fell short in the Quarterfinals, dropping a 2-1 decision as the No. 5 seed to Post.
After claiming the CACC Regular Season Championship and the No. 1 seed in the 2009 CACC Tournament, the men couldn’t capitalize on their regular season success. After beating No. 8 seed Goldey-Beacom, 2-0, in the quarterfinals, the Wildcats fell to Bloomfield, 4-2, in penalty kicks after tying 0-0 through two overtimes.
The 2010 squad earned the No. 4 seed but couldn’t get out of the first round once again, losing to Post, 2-1 in overtime. Last season, the Wildcats picked up the No. 2 seed into the Tournament, but an upstart No. 7 Nyack squad stunned the Wildcats at home, winning 4-0, going on to win the CACC Tournament.
