Box Score LYNDHURST, N.J. – Felician University graduate defender Xabier Aizpuru (Barakaldo, Spain/Beurko BHI) scored two second-half goals, but his Golden Falcons fell short of Wilmington (Del.) University, 3-2, in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference men's soccer action on Saturday night at the Lyndhurst Recreation Complex.
Wilmington (11-1-1, 5-1 CACC) was ranked No. 3 regionally and No. 17 nationally in the most recent NCAA Division II coaches' polls. Felician has now seen its last six matches be decided by one goal or fewer; it is 3-2-1 during that stretch.
Prior to the game, Felician honored its six seniors – Raul Abellan (Girona, Spain/IES Sobreques), Alexandros Avraamides (Nicosia, Cyprus/Paignton Academy [U.K.]), Denilson De Las Casas (Clifton, N.J./Clifton), George Hernandez (Passaic, N.J./PCTI), Christopher Juarez (Passaic, N.J./Passaic), and Leo Yang (Seoul, South Korea/Queen of Peace [N.J.]) – during Senior Night ceremonies.
Rain began to fall lightly during the ceremony, became heavier during the match's opening minutes, and held steady for the rest of the night. Nevertheless, the Wildcats created some early opportunities. Hernandez, Felician's goalkeeper, saved a second-minute shot, and the visitors gained two corner kicks during the opening 10 minutes of action.
Wilmington's pressure eventually paid dividends. During the 36th minute a ball crossed along the goal line defected off Hernandez and to the feet of Wildcat senior Hakim Williams (St. Catherine, Jamaica/St. Georges College), who sent it back across the 18-yard box and into the net. Wilmington carried the 1-0 lead into halftime.
Play opened up for both teams in the second period as they adjusted to the conditions. Wilmington freshman Gabriel Marin (Madrid, Spain) forced a Felician turnover and scored 6:56 into period two, but Felician answered during the 67th minute when Aizpuru redirected a free kick by Danny Bzura (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Pocono Mountain East).
The Wildcats appeared to secure the victory as Mamadou Diombera (Bronx, N.Y./Liberty) kneed home a high diagonal cross with 1:28 remaining in regulation time. But Aizpuru, on quick feed from Raul Abellan (Girona, Spain/IES Sobreques) tallied again just 21 seconds later. In the final seconds, Felician defender Michael Vogel (Burgkirchen, Germany/Aventinus Gymnasium Burghausen) attempted to take a ball out of the air in his team's offensive third, but could not get a full foot on it, and his shot was blocked by the Wilmington defense.
Felician (4-6-1, 3-3) will travel to Wilmington on Oct. 23 to take on the CACC's other Delaware member, Goldey-Beacom College. Start time is set for 2:30 p.m.
