MANCHESTER, N.H. -- A header off a corner in the second overtime landed the Wilmington (Del.) a 2-1 victory against Post in the first round of the NCAA tournament hosted by Southern New Hampshire.
Playing its Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference rival for the third time this season, the Wildcats (13-5-2) finally figured out the Eagles (15-3-2) and took down the East Region’s No. 3 seed.
Sophomore Lance Berry buried a header off a corner at the near post with 5:50 remaining in the second overtime period, giving the Wildcats and the CACC its first men’s soccer victory in the NCAA tournament.
The corner came 4:07 into the second overtime and Montini put a left-footed curling ball to the near post at the six-yard box where Berry went up to head it home into the top near post corner.
After Post’s Terrell Whitting slipped through the back line and attempted to chip Frank Hall who came off the goal line, Woodley raced to the goal line and bicycled the ball off the line, falling hard on his side in the 61st minute to keep it at a 1-1 tie.
The Eagles almost took the lead once again later in the second half, but the ball struck the underside of the cross bar and came right down in front of the goal line, never crossing it before the ball was cleared away.
After a scoreless first overtime which saw Ellison post the only two shots of the 10 minute period, the game was set up for a fantastic finish. For the third time this season, the Wildcats struck first against Post with a goal early in the first half. This time it came from freshman defender Geoff Velasquez who tallied his first career goal.
Traveling down the left side, Velasquez cut into the box before returning the ball back to his left foot. His shot across the box deflected off a Post defender and into the back of the net at the near post to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute.
Post was able to tie the game in the 25th minute, however, capitalizing on a mishandled ball by Hall in goal for the Wildcats. It would be the only mistake the sophomore goalkeeper would make in the game. He made four saves in goal for the win.
The Wildcats advance to play again at 1 p.m. Saturday, as they now face Southern New Hampshire at Larkin Field.
