Boxscore

Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

WILMINGTON, N.C. -- The University of Delaware men’s soccer team fell to University of North Carolina Wilmington, 2-1, during Colonial Athletic Association action at the UNCW Soccer Stadium on Saturday night.

Delaware (5-11-0 overall, 2-6-0 CAA) notched an early goal at 14:56, though UNC Wilmington (9-2-3 overall, 5-0-2 CAA) retaliated in the second half and scored two to lead the regionally-ranked Seahawks to victory.

The hosts opened the game with a trio of shots in Delaware territory, before senior Kyle Davis fired off the Hens’ first of the night. Davis’ shot collided with the crossbar and bounced directly back into play. Six foot, three inch sophomore, Darren O’Connor (at right), headed the airborne ball back to goal, past UNCW keeper Brock Duckworth for the score.

UNCW, ranked third in the South Atlantic region by the NSCAA and also receiving votes in the national poll, outshot the Blue and Gold, 12-3, in the first stint of play, but could not break the Delaware defense to knot the game before the horn sounded at the half.

Though this remained true throughout the remainder of the first, the Seahawks continued to dominate play and put two away in the second en route to defending its now seven-game unbeaten streak.

The Seahawks were awarded a corner kick in the 54th minute that led to the game-tying goal. Etienne Boulinger placed the ball into the box off the kick before Daniel Roberts directed the ball to Seph Babington. Babington headed it past Delaware junior co-captain Conrad Rusnak to bring the contest to a deadlock.

The 1-1 stalemate held true until 83:22 when Tyler Clare found the feet of Thomas Driver for the Seahawk game-winner. Driver curled a shot from 20 yards out into the inside of the right post to put the game away.

Davis chanced tying the game for a second time at 84:40, though a UNCW defender blocked his shot to keep the one-goal advantage in tact.

Rusnak tallied a game-high four saves for the Hens, while Duckworth stopped two for the home squad.

“This was a tough game for us in North Carolina tonight,” said fourth-year head coach Ian Hennessy. “We went ahead early but at the end of the day we were not sharp enough on the night to comfortably defend the lead. Credit to UNCW as they never allowed us much time to play -- they seemed hungrier for the victory than we.

“We need to raise our level for Wednesday when we face a very good team in Northeastern, who like UNCW, are atop the conference,” concluded Hennessy.

Delaware will return to CAA action on Wednesday, Oct. 28 when it plays host to CAA opponent, Northeastern, at 3 p.m.

AGATE:

UNC Wilmington......0.....2........2
Delaware..................1.....0........1

Scoring Summary: First Half: UD - Darren O’Connor (Kyle Davis) - 14:56; Second Half: UNCW - Seph Babington (Daniel Roberts) - 53:34, UNCW - Thomas Driver (Tyler Clare) - 83:22; Shots: UD - 8, UNCW - 22; Corner Kicks: UD - 6, UNCW - 7; Saves: UD - 4 (Conrad Rusnak, 4), UNCW - 2 (Brock Duckworth, 2); Fouls: UD - 15, UNCW 7; Offsides: UD - 5, UNCW - 2.