CALDWELL, N.J. -- Rested since a 25-minute first half run, junior forward Hugo Thell (Höganäs, Sweden) brought a fresh set of legs into a tightly played, 1-1 contest for Caldwell men's soccer when he entered in the 81st minute. His substitution proved a stroke of genius, as the speedy Thell outran the Wilmington defenders, sliding a shot past the keeper in the 81st minute to propel the Cougars to a thrilling, 2-1 win over the 23rd-ranked Wildcats at Caldwell Athletic Field in CACC action on Saturday afternoon.

The winning play started when freshman defender Bilal Mahamadou (Lyon, France) tossed a short throw in to sophomore defender Pieter Hengeveld (Weert, Netherlands), who booted the toss well across midfield to sophomore midfielder Hakon Rake (Lommedalen, Norway), who deftly headed the ball between two defenders to a charging Thell, who raced past one and booted a low right-footer into the right side of the goal for what proved to be the game winner.

CU's first marker, which was equally exciting, came in the 33rd minute, when senior midfielder Ingebrigt Braenden (Trondheim, Norway) lofted a pass from just behind the center circle over the defenders to a racing Rake, who evaded one defender quickly and lifted a left-footer over the keeper for a then 1-0 Cougar lead on his team-best eighth goal of the year.

Junior netminder Justin Talbot (Moorestown, N.J.) made seven saves in the triumph, which moved CU (4-6-3 overall, 2-3-2 CACC) right in to the thick of the CACC race with eight points, currently tied for sixth in the table.

All-American Theo Faillon 

Caldwell takes a week away from competition, then hosts Queens in a non-league contest on Saturday, Oct. 25, at 11 a.m., on Senior Day at Caldwell Athletic Field.