RUTHERFORD, N.J. - After playing 110 minutes in the pouring rain without either team scoring, Wilmington College advanced to the finals of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament by defeating Caldwell College, 4-3 in a penalty-kick shootout Thursday afternoon at Tryon Field. The result, which is officially recorded as a 0-0 tie, ends the Cougars' season with a record of 11-7-2, while Wilmington is now 16-2-1 and will face Dominican College in the finals on Saturday.

The Cougars' best scoring chance of the game came in the first half on a corner kick. Sophomore Victoria Aguilera (Merida, Venezuela/Saucon Valley) headed the ball just off the crossbar, and the rebound was shot wide by freshman Carla Bleiler (Egg Harbor, NJ/Absegami). In the second half, freshman Brook Delucca (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) charged through the Wildcat defense but her shot was saved by Wilmington's Chrissy Bevenour. Junior Richelle Morse (Mount Holly, NJ/Rancocas Valley) also had a strong game in goal, making eight saves en route to her eighth shutout. 

In the shootout, Wilmington, which selected to kick first, converted its first three kicks while Caldwell made two of three. After a Wildcat miss, Aguilera knotted the score at 3-3 when she beat Bevenour to her left. Danielle Szymanski then gave Wilmington a 4-3 advantage, which proved to be the difference after Caldwell missed its final attempt.

The result ends the most successful season in the eight-year history of women's soccer at Caldwell College, as the Cougars set school records for wins (11), conference wins (eight), and shutouts (eight). The Cougars, coached by Brian Davies, did not lose at home (7-0-1) and collected their first-ever CACC Tournament victory.

CC - 0 0 0 0 - 0

WC - 0 0 0 0 - 0

Scoring Summary: none
Shots: CC - 8; WC - 16
Saves: CC - Morse  8; WC - Bevenour 3
Corners: CC - 5; WC - 3
Fouls: CC - 10; WC - 5

Offsides: CC - 1; WC - 1

Cautions: none