CALDWELL, N.J. - Senior Chris Parshelunis (Brick, NJ/St. Rose) scored the game-winning goal in the 87th minute as the Caldwell College men's soccer team erased a one-goal deficit for the second straight game to defeat Wilmington College 2-1 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference match Saturday afternoon at Caldwell Field. The Cougars, who came back from one goal down to beat Felician College on Tuesday, Sept. 20, are now 5-1-1 overall and 4-0 in the CACC. The Wildcats drop to 2-8 on the season, and 1-3 in the conference.
After a scoreless first half, Wilmington's Sean Reilly dribbled through a couple defenders and blasted a shot into the upper right corner just 49 seconds into the second half for a 1-0 Wildcats lead. The Cougars, who had several golden scoring chances thwarted by Wilmington goalkeeper Dan Mangat, finally got on the scoreboard when junior forward Bard Skjelstad (Bodo, Norway), pictured, headed in a cross from freshman midfielder Kevoi Walters (Clarendon, Jamaica/Clarendon) in the 56th minute to tie the game. Then with the clock winding down, Skjelstad passed the ball to Parshelunis to the right of the goal. Parshelunis' initial shot was blocked, but he chased down the ball on the goal line and notched his first goal of the season with just under four minutes to play.
Senior goalkeeper Mike Turdo (West Paterson, NJ/Passaic Valley) was solid in goal, making three saves. Mangat finished with six saves for the Wildcats, as the Cougars held a 27-7 advantage in shots.
The Cougars, who have won four straight games and are unbeaten in their last five, will play at Dowling College, the nation's third-ranked team, on Wednesday, Sept. 28. Game time is set for 4:00 p.m.
CC - 0 2 - 2
WC - 0 1 - 1
Scoring Summary: 1. WC - Sean Reilly (unassisted), 45:49. 2. CC - Bard Skjelstad 4 (Kevoi Walters), 55:08. 3. CC - Chris Parshelunis 1 (Skjelstad), 86:08.
Shots: CC - 27; WC - 7
Saves: CC - Mike Turdo 3; WC - Dan Mangat 6
Corners: CC - 10; WC - 3
Fouls: CC - 10; WC - 15
Offsides: CC - 2; WC - 2
Cautions: CC - Sartorio (30:49), Sissokho (70:20); WC - Mattei (25:58), Galasso (63:07), bench (65:53)
