SUBJECT: Wilmington Baseball Continues to Help the Community with its Annual Adopt a Highway Campaign
DATE: October 24, 2013
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NEW CASTLE, Del. - - Prior to clearing the bases with one swing of the bat in their fall season, the Wilmington University baseball team took time away from the diamond to clear the street and continue its annual Adopt A Highway program on Saturday, October 12.
“Anytime we can get out into the community and give back is a great day,” head coach Brian August, who will enter his tenth year at the helm of the Wildcats in the spring, said. “The community has been there for our baseball program through the years and we just want to show that we appreciate their support and want to give back.”
It is the fifth straight year August and his team has been a part of the Adopt A Highway campaign, starting the annual cleanup in 2008. The team swept through Route 273 between the First Baptist Church of New Castle and the backside of the New Castle Farmers’ Market.
In all, 40 players from the baseball team helped clean both sides of Route 273, clearing trash and debris along the highway.
The baseball team returns in 2014 as the three-time conference champions looking to progress forward towards a fourth straight Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Championship and NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament appearance in the spring.
Wilmington Women’s Soccer Falls, 1-0, on the Road
DATE: October 12, 2013
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BLOOMFIELD, N.J. - - The Wilmington University women’s soccer team fell in an early hole and could never recover, falling 1-0 on the road at Bloomfield in a much needed Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest on Saturday afternoon at Foley Field.
Looking to gain momentum after their 2-1 come-from-behind victory against Post last Saturday, the Wildcats (4-6-1, 4-3-1 CACC) went down early in the game for the second match in a row, but this time were unable to recover. Bloomfield (3-7-1, 2-3-1 CACC) snapped a two game losing streak, preserving the shutout after scoring in the second minute of the match.
Bloomfield senior Mikie Bradley gave the Lady Deacons the advantage just 65 seconds into the opening half, corralling a loose ball just outside the Wilmington 18-yard box and fired a shot past Wildcats goalkeeper Julia Brown which proved to be the game winner.
Unlike last week when the Wildcats were able to score late against Post to force overtime and eventually put away the game-winner, Wilmington was unable to figure out the back line of the Lady Deacons all afternoon. Bloomfield outshot the Wildcats, 13-12, while the Wildcats were able to earn one more corner, 2-1. Each team’s keeper needed to make seven saves on the afternoon.
Bloomfield senior keeper Sashagay Spence made seven saves her second shutout of the season in the win over the defending CACC Tournament champions, picking up her second shutout victory of the season in the win.
Victoria Vasapolli led the Wildcats with three shots, two of which reached Spence. Blair LaJudice also put two shots on frame, but was denied both times by Spence. Jenna Quaranta, Jordanne Hoesli-Atkins, and Rebecca Sowers each put one shot on goal in the match.
The Wildcats looks to rebound on Tuesday afternoon when they return to the WU Athletics Complex for another CACC contest, this time against Chestnut Hill. The opening draw is slated for a 3:30 p.m. start.
SUBJECT: Wildcats Exact Revenge on Holy Family, 3-1, in CACC Volleyball South Division Showdown
DATE: October 11, 2013
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NEWARK, Del. - - In as close to back-to-back matches against one team it is going to get, the Wilmington University volleyball team learned from its five set loss last week and scored the revenge by defeating Holy Family, 3-1, on Friday night at the WU Athletics Complex.
Set scores for the match were 25-18, 23-25, 25-16, and 25-17.
The loss on the road last week in Philadelphia was the first Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference South Division regular season loss since 2011 for the Wildcats (12-8, 7-1 CACC), but they returned home to tame the Tigers (8-10, 5-4 CACC) in their second match of the season.
Wilmington held the Tigers to a team hitting percentage of .082 for the match, while the Wildcats collected a .305 attack percentage, including a match high .333 in the fourth and final set. The defense also out-blocked, 7-5, and out dug, 59-52, the Tigers for the match.
Setter Kasey Couch and Alex Siolos spread the offense around and helped the back row on defense as each collected a double-double on the night. Both Couch and Siolos dished out 20 assists each, but Couch held the edge with 13 digs. Siolos ended with 10 digs. Tonight was Siolos’ eighth double-double of the season, a team high, while Couch collected her seventh double-double of the year.
The offense had three Wildcats in double figures, led by Kaitlin DiGiacinto’s 13 terminations. Freshman Allison Briley added 12 kills on a 33.3 percentage success rate while senior Brittany Biddle chipped in with 11 kills and a team high .421 attack percentage. Biddle’s 11 kills came on 19 swings with only three errors.
The Wildcats started quickly in the first set, as they came out and score the first eight points of the opening game before jumping to a 10-1 lead. But the Tigers fired back with five straight points of their own to cut the deficit to 10-6. Now leading 13-9, the Wildcats scored four straight and seven of the next nine points to up the advantage to 20-11, capped by back-to-back kills by Briley. A service error gave the ball back to the Wildcats leading 21-13, and kills by DiGiacinto, and Briley, and a block by Shorter pushed the Wildcats to set point, 24-13. The Tigers responded once again, scoring five consecutive points to put pressure on the home team before an attack error gave Wilmington the set, 25-18.
Wilmington took a 20-17 lead in the second set following four straight points, capped by a double block by Briley and Shorter. Kills by Siolos and DiGiacinto gave the Wildcats a 23-19 lead but it was the Tigers who rallied to take the set. Without giving up another point, the Tigers fought all the way back to claim the set, 25-23, ended on back-to-back kills by Sarah Ambach.
The Wildcats jumped out to another early lead in the third set, scoring seven straight points to take a 9-3 lead. Another four consecutive points pushed the lead to 13-5 before Briley’s kill gave the Wildcats a commanding 19-9 lead in the game. Once again, the Tigers would not go away quietly, as they scored five straight to close the gap to 19-14. But the Wildcats settled and scored six of the next eight points, including the final three, to take the third set, 25-16.
Short bursts of three and four consecutive points allowed the Wildcats to take control of the fourth set, and they opened with leads of 4-1, 10-4, and 12-5. The Tigers got within four at 12-8 but the Wildcats scored five of the next six points to open the lead to 17-9. After going back and forth, the Wildcats tallied three straight points on a kill by Biddle and back-to-back Tiger errors to put the game and match away, 25-17.
Katie Shorter tallied seven kill with a .375 attack percentage on the night while Siolos chipped in with five kills of her own. Shorter also led the team at the net, collecting three solo blocks and adding two block assists. Siolos added the only other solo block on the night. Couch led the team with her 13 digs followed by Shelby Henderson’s 12 and Annie Scarfo’s 11.
The Wildcats have little time to rest, as they return to the court on Saturday for a 12 p.m. match at the WU Athletics Complex. The team will host Bloomfield from the CACC North Division for its lone matchup of the regular season.
Saturday is the team’s Juvenile Diabetes Awareness match and they will be collected donations at the door. The Wildcats will also be selling Juvenile Diabetes bracelets and 50-50 raffle tickets throughout the match to raise money and awareness for the cause.
SUBJECT: Todd Woll’s First Career Goal Sends Wilmington Men’s Soccer to CACC Tie, 1-1, with Philadelphia
DATE: October 8, 2013
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NEWARK, Del. - - Senior Todd Woll picked a good time to score his first career goal as a member of the Wilmington University men’s soccer team on Tuesday, knotting the score of what turned into a 1-1 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference draw with Philadelphia at the WU Athletics Complex.
The Wildcats (8-3-1, 4-2-1 CACC) responded after going down a goal early in the second half, scoring in the 76th minute to finally tie the match. Philadelphia (7-3-1, 5-1-1 CACC) had a chance to end the match at the end of regulation, but a header off a corner was saved.
The Rams were able to get on the board first in the contest, scoring on a misplay in the back by the Wildcats’ defense. Failing to clear the ball out of their own penalty box, the Wildcats turned the ball over to the Rams’ Jordan Lynch on the right side, who beat Frank Hall to the near post for the 1-0 lead in the 53rd minute.
The Wildcats, who controlled the ball for the majority of the contest, led the Rams in shot, 12-10, and corners, 11-4, for the match, but couldn’t solve the Philadelphia defense until late.
On their eight corner of the game, the Wildcats finally broke through in the 76th minute. Freshman Geoff Velasquez’s corner carried over the Ram’s goalkeeper Thomas Attamante and towards the back post, but stayed out of the goal as it rung the crossbar and bounced out.
Woll, a senior defender, was there on the back post as he side volleyed the ball back towards the goal mouth. Philadelphia was able to head the ball away, but not before the ball completely crossed the goal line, knotting the game at 1-1.
Wilmington put five shots on the board in the two overtime periods and added a pair of corner kicks in the second 10 minutes, but couldn’t find the back of the net for the rest of the match. It was the first tie of the season for both the Rams and the Wildcats.
Starting goalkeeper Frank Hall recorded three saves in 80:28 of game play before an injury forced him out of the contest. Junior Spyros Stergiotis came on and tallied three saves while playing the reaming 29:32. The Rams’ Attamante needed to make three saves to escape with the tie.
Thursday’s match against the University of the District of Columbia, a government funded school, has been postponed due to the government shutdown. The two teams are searching for a rescheduled date later in the year, but is handcuffed until the government pays its bills.
Wilmington now returns to action on Saturday, as they head to CACC rival Bloomfield for their first road game since September 24. The match is slated for a 1 p.m. start.
SUBJECT: Middles Carry Wilmington Volleyball to 3-2 Victory over CACC North Leaders Caldwell
DATE: October 5, 2013
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CALDWELL, N.J. - - The Wilmington University volleyball team got back on track on Saturday, defeating Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference North Division leaders Caldwell College, 3-2, on Saturday afternoon at the Newman Center.
Set scores for the match were 22-25, 25-13, 25-10, 20-25, and 15-10.
After starting off slowly in the first set, the Wildcats (11-8, 6-1 CACC) came back and hit .423 in the second set, and .435 in the third set to start the comeback trail. Caldwell (9-8, 6-1 CACC) was able to tie the match at 2-2 with hitting .308 in the fourth set but the Wildcats battled back to claim the fifth and deciding set.
Despite hitting a .078 in the first set, the Wildcats continued to pound the opposite side of the net for the remainder of the match, finishing the day with a .259 attack percentage. They went tallied 47 kills with only 10 errors, on 107 swings in the final four sets, combining to hit .346 after the opening frame.
The second and third sets were all Wilmington, as the visitors opened up leads of 13-5, 17-7, and 20-8 in the second game before settling on a game of 25-13 to tie the match at 1-1. The Wildcats used a 6-0 run in the middle of the third set to open a 21-7 lead, before finishing out the frame with four of the final points to win going away, 25-10.
Wilmington jumped out to a large 8-1 lead in the fourth set, but the Cougars came back fighting to eventually tie the match at 2-2. After falling behind 8-1, Caldwell scored five of the next six, and eight of the next 11 points to crawl back within 11-9, forcing the Wildcats into a timeout. The home team eventually timed the set at 13-13, before moving in front for good with four straight points late, taking a 21-18 advantage. They tallied four of the next six points to take the set, 25-20.
The Wildcats again jumped out to an early lead in the fifth set, getting back to back kill by Katie Shorter to take the frame. Now, 2-1, the Wildcats scored four of the next five points, never letting the lead slip out of their hands the rest of the way.
Leading 10-8 in the final frame, Allison Briley and Shorter collected back-to-back kills before a Caldwell attack errors put Wilmington in front, 13-8. Kaitlin DiGiacinto gave the Wildcats match point with a kill, 14-9, before a bad set by the Cougars ends the game, and the match, 15-10.
Both middle hitters Shorter and Brittany Biddle led the charge for the Wildcats, as Biddle paced the offense with 15 kills. Shorter added 11 kills on a team high .429 hitting percentage. Biddle’s 15 kills came on 31 swings for a .419 attack percentage as well. DiGiacinto was the only other Wildcat to record double digit kills, finishing with 13.
Shorter was also the main ingredient in the Wildcats advantage at the net, with the team collecting 13 blocks to Caldwell’s five. Shorter finished with one solo and eight block assists. Biddle had the other solo block for the team, adding three block assists on the afternoon.
The Wildcats have a chance at redemption for their next match, as they welcome Holy Family to the WU Athletics Complex for a rematch on Friday. The Wildcats recently lost to the Tigers, 3-2, on Thursday in Philadelphia. Friday’s match is slated for a 7:00 p.m. start.
SUBJECT: Second Half Goal Trumps Wilmington Women’s Soccer, 1-0, at Holy Family
DATE: October 1, 2013
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PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - - A lone second half goal proved to be enough for the Holy Family women’s soccer team as it took down Wilmington, 1-0, in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action at Tiger Field on Tuesday afternoon.
With both teams among the best four to this point in the CACC, the Wildcats (3-5-1, 3-2-1 CACC) stout defense had a goal get by them in the 60th minute, keeping the Tigers (5-4, 4-1 CACC) one game out of first place.
Junior goalkeeper Julia Brown kept the Wildcats in the contest with eight saves, as the team was outshot, 19-7, in the match. Victoria Vasapolli led the offense, getting two of her three shots on frame, forcing the Tigers’ goalkeeper to make a save.
The Tigers were able to outshoot the Wildcats, 9-5, in the first half, but the visitors earned more corners, 2-0. The Wildcats had the Tigers on their heels around the 20 minute mark of the first half, as they put three shots on the board and registered the first corner of the match at 19:44. A shot by Kaitlyn Atmore following the corner was saved by Tigers’ goalkeeper Sienna Smith.
Holy Family came out in the second half and posted the first seven shots of the second half, the fourth by Brittany Robinson which beat Brown and the Wildcats’ defense for the 1-0 lead.
Wilmington returns to action this Saturday when it returns to the WU Athletics Complex for a 12 p.m. start. The Wildcats will host Post in a soccer doubleheader for their annual Breast Cancer Awareness contest. Show your support by wearing Pink to the contest. Donations to help fight the deadly disease will be available at the gate.
SUBJECT: Freshman Kim Richer Earns First Women’s Soccer CACC Rookie of the Week Award
DATE: October 1, 2013
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NEW HAVEN, Conn. - - In leading the Wilmington University women’s soccer team to a 1-0-1 record this past week, freshman Kim Richer has been named the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Rookie of the Week, announced by the conference office on Monday.
Richer (Shamong, N.J./Seneca) helped the team to a 2-1 victory over cross-town rival Goldey-Beacom on Wednesday before settling on a 1-1 tie with Caldwell on Saturday for Homecoming.
Against Goldey-Beacom, Richer tied the match in the 13th minute with a 25-yard strike, shooting high above the Lightning keeper to knot the score at 1-1. The freshman wasn’t done, however, as she put a cross from the left side to the top of the penalty box to an open Victoria Vasapolli who buried the shot for the 2-1 lead.
On Saturday, Richer made a long run down the left side to the touch line before putting a cross to the far post, again finding Vasapolli for a goal.
Richer is now second on the team with seven points, scoring two goals and adding a team high three assists on the year.
Vasapolli was named to the women’s soccer Weekly Honor Roll after scoring a goal in each of the two games this week. She leads the team with four goals and nine points on the year.
The Wildcats return to action today as they head to Holy Family for another CACC contest. Next chance to catch the Wildcats at home will be on Saturday when they welcome Post to the WU Athletics Contest in their annual Breast Cancer Awareness match.
SUBJECT: Parliament's Nine Saves Not Enough as Wilmington Women's Soccer Falls, 1-0, at Franklin Pierce
DATE: September 8, 2013
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RINDGE, N.H. - - Despite Kendal Parliament's nine saves in goal, the Wilmington University women's soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision on the road at Franklin Pierce, rounding out the opening weekend of action for the 2013 season on Sunday afternoon.
Much like the opening game on Friday, the defensive unit held in tact through an onslaught of shots by Franklin Pierce (1-1), as the defender turned goalkeeper Parliament recorded nine saves and initially stopped the shot that led to the Ravens' goal.
The Wildcats (0-2) were outshot 20-1 for the match and 15-0 in the first half alone before playing a more offensive game in the second 45 minutes.
Franklin Pierce scored the only goal it needed in the 36th minute off the foot of Eize Vieira. After initially making the save on the shot, the ball slipped through Parliament's hands and headed towards the goal line. Much to the displeasure of head coach Josh Ruggiero, the referee saw the ball completely cross the line prior to Parliament regaining control of the ball.
After heading into the break trailing 1-0, freshman Rebecca Sowers registered the team's lone shot in the 55th minute, sailing it wide of the goal.
The Wildcats registered a pair of first half corners as well, but were outnumbered for the match, 12-2, by the Ravens.
Wilmington remains on the road for another game, as it heads to Georgian Court on Thursday to opens the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference portion of its schedule. The game is slated to begin at 3:30 p.m. in Lakewood, N.J.
Link: Wilmington Wildcat Report
SUBJECT: Wildcats End Three Game Skid With 69-62 Nonconference Men’s Basketball Victory at Mercy
DATE: December 11, 2013
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DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. - - A 10-3 spurt in overtime sent the Wilmington University men’s basketball team to a 69-62 nonconference victory on the road at Mercy College, stopping a three-game losing streak in the process on Wednesday night.
Back-to-back buckets by Shaq Monroe-Gaskins, including a dunk to start the scoring kick-started the Wildcats (4-7 overall) in the extra period. Also aided by a pair of blocks on the defensive end by Ta’Vaune Griffin, the Wildcats raced out to a six point lead in overtime before hitting all four of their free-throws down to stretch to come away victorious.
Wilmington took its largest lead of the contest half way through the first half, turning a 5-2 deficit into a 14-5 lead, capped by a layup by Tyrik Gass with 11:10 to play.
But the Mavericks (0-7) instantly responded with an 8-0 run of their own, eventually tying the match at 16-16 at the 6:28 mark of the first half. The run continued for the home team as the Mavericks took the as large as a four point lead with 5:02 remaining.
Senior Herb Dennis flipped the score once again in favor of the Wildcats in the first half, moving them ahead for good in the opening 20 minutes with a layup with 2:43 to play. Now leading 28-26, Valentino Thompson started a 5-0 run with a layup before Dusan Koijic converted an old fashioned three-point play for the final points of the half, with the Wildcats leading 33-26.
Mercy battled back in the second half, however, taking a lead at 39-38 with 14:13 to play. The score went back and forth, trading hands three more times while also being tied four times in the second half.
Tied at 57-57, Monroe-Gaskins gave the Wildcats the lead with a layup with 2:05 to play, but a Mercy layup by Olajide Keshinro retied the match with 1:30 showing on the clock. The Mavericks missed three shots down the stretch while the Wildcats turned the ball over twice, forcing the game into the overtime period.
Griffin finished with his third double-double, all coming in the past four games, with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Dennis finished with a game high 15 points while Thompson nearly added his own double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds.
The Wildcats return home for their next contest, as they get back into Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action on Saturday. The team will host CACC South Division rival Holy Family starting at 3 p.m.
Team will also be holding their annual Alumni Game prior to Saturday’s game starting at 12 p.m. at the WU Athletics Complex. Fans are also encourages to bring monetary donations to the game to help the team buy toys for the University’s partnership in CBS 3’s Joy of Sharing Annual Toy Drive.
SUBJECT: Bentley Leads Wire-to-Wire in 90-50 Victory over Wilmington Men’s Basketball
DATE: November 9, 2013
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WALTHAM, Mass. - - Concluding the Bentley Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday, Bentley led wire-to-wire over the Wilmington University men’s basketball team, coming out with a 90-50 victory at the Dana Center.
Bentley (2-0 overall) took the lead with the game’s first back of the contest and never looked back, building as large as a 26 point lead at the end of the first half before gliding to a nonconference victory to open the 2013-14 season.
The Falcons took their largest lead of the game at 69-26 following a jumper by Jasper Grassa at the 12:01 mark of the second half before cruising to the 40 point victory to round out its home tournament.
Senior Herb Dennis led the Wildcats (0-2 overall) with 13 points on the night, shooting 5-of-16 from the floor while adding 3-of-3 from the foul line. He also led with a team high three assists during the contest.
Valentino Thompson chipped in with six points while adding a team high five rebounds in the contest. Sophomore Tajee Almon also added a team high five rebounds in the contest.
For the game, the Wildcats shot 25.8 percent from the field on 16-of-62 from the floor, hitting only 6-of-24 from beyond the three-point arc. Bentley, on the other hand, shot 52.4 percent from the floor for the match.
The Wildcats remain on the road for one more contest to start the 2013-14 season, as they head to St. Thomas Aquinas on Tuesday for an opening tip starting at 7 p.m.
SUBJECT: Halftime Lead Dissipates as Wilmington Men’s Basketball Falls, 84-71, in Season Opener against Merrimack
DATE: November 8, 2013
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WALTHAM, Mass. - - A halftime lead wasn’t enough in the 2013-14 season opener for the Wilmington University men’s basketball team, as Merrimack came back to score the 84-71 victory to kick off the Bentley Tip-Off on Friday night at the Dana Center.
Post play off the bench by Merrimack (1-0 overall) helped turn the game around in the second half after the Wildcats (0-1 overall) grabbed a 31-27 lead at the halftime break.
Even as the Warriors held a 15 point lead with 11:31 to play in the first half, the Wildcats bounced back and went on an 11-0 run before taking over the lead on a pair of free-throws by Herb Dennis with 4:31 remaining in the in the first half. In all, the Wildcats used a 20-4 run to turn the score around and take a 26-25 lead in the contest.
Nearing the end of the first half, freshman Paul Moore converted his first collegiate bucket with 4:15 remaining in the half to put the Wildcats in front by three points, 28-25. The lead grew to four points at the end of the first half as sophomore Shai Henry put in a layup with 57 seconds left, finishing off the scoring in the first 20 minutes.
It didn’t take long for the Warriors to turn the score around in the beginning of the second half, however, as they scored the first seven points of the second stanza, taking the lead for good in the game with a pair of free throws by JT Strickland at the 18:46 mark. The lead grew to as many as 12 for Merrimack at 54-42 with 11:04 remaining in regulation before the Wildcats made their second half run.
Shrinking the lead to as few as four points, the Wildcats run fell short inside the final five minutes as the Warriors were able to hold off Wilmington to pick up the victory in the season opener for both teams. Dennis hit a three pointer to close the gap to 63-59 with 5:54 remaining in regulation, but the Warriors quickly extended the lead back out to nine points with a layup and a three-pointer with 5:25 to play.
That would be as close as the Wildcats would get the rest of the way.
Dennis led the Wildcats with a game high 24 points to begin his senior season, shooting 9-for-17 from the floor including 4-of-6 from the foul line. Junior transfer Valentino Thompson was the only other Wildcat to tally double digit in points, putting 14 points on the board on 5-of-10 shooting from the floor and 4-of-5 shooting from the foul line, while adding a game high seven assists in his Wildcat debut. Sophomore transfer Ta’Vaune Griffin led the Wildcats with 10 rebounds off the bench in his Wildcat debut.
Wilmington remains in Waltham, Mass. for one more contest to begin the 2013-14 campaign. Wilmington will square off against host Bentley to conclude the Bentley Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday night. The opening tip is scheduled to be thrown at 8 p.m.
SUBJECT: Wilmington Basketball Programs Welcome Matt O’Brien and Candice Walker on Staff for 2013-14
DATE: October 24, 2013
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NEWARK, Del. - - Preparing to start a new season on the court, the Wilmington University basketball programs each added personnel to the bench in adding Matt O’Brien and Candice Walker to the men’s and women’s coaching staff, respectively.
O’Brien joins the men’s staff as an assistant after seven years as an assistant at Eastern University. Prior to coaching at Eastern, O’Brien was a four year letterwinner for the basketball team at Grove City College in Grove City, Pa.
"Matt has a ton of contacts all over the area and is known as one of the best recruiters in the Mid-Atlantic Region,” fifth year head coach Mike Gallagher said. “He will be a tremendous asset to our program. In my opinion, along with our current assistants Harrison Singer and Vernon Dupree, the addition of Matt gives us one of the best recruiting staffs in the CACC (Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference)."
He helped lead the Eagles to four conference tournament semifinal appearances between the PAC and the MAC conferences. While mainly focusing on the post positions, O’Brien helped coach six all-conference selections during his tenure at Eastern, including three first-team honorees.
While at Eastern, O’Brien was also the JV Head Coach, implementing the skill development and program play book to the student-athletes on the freshman team. He was also responsible for organizing the team’s travel and meal arrangements, as well as the budget of the JV program.
Walker joins the women’s staff after a successful career on the court for the Loyola University Maryland Greyhounds.
Walker, a native of Baltimore, Md., was a four-year letterwinner for the Greyhounds, completing her senior season on the court in 2012-13. Her career started off by being named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team in 2007-08 after becoming the first true freshman to start for Loyola at the point guard position since the 1991-92 season.
“I had the pleasure of recruiting and coaching Candice at the high school level,” second year head coach Tiffany Silver said. “She was a coaches’ model point guard. Her work ethic and success through high school and college makes her a fantastic addition to my staff. She's ambitious, passionate, and hungry to make her mark at Wilmington. The best person to hire, in my opinion, is one of the best point guards to ever play for me. The girls love her energy and have adapted and welcomed her from day one.”
As a freshman, Walker led the MAAC rookies with 252 points and 93 assists while also leading the conference rookies in minutes played. She was named MAAC Rookie of the Week four times as a freshman. She played, and started, in all 30 games for the 2007-08 season. As a sophomore, she again led her team in assists, tallying 74 with a career high eight against Towson.
Injuries plagued her junior and senior seasons, but Walker was granted a medical hardship to compete in her sixth season as a Greyhound, finishing out her career during the 2012-13 season. She came back and played in 18 games last year, making one start. She scored a season high five points against Maryland and added a season high three assists twice.
Walker has worked as a coach at the Point Guard College and is a graduate from WBCA’s “So You Want To Be A Coach” at last season’s NCAA Division I Women’s Final Four.
The men’s 2013-14 schedule begins at the Bentley Tip-Off on November 8-9, with the first chance to catch them at the WU Athletics Complex on November 14 against Millersville at 7 p.m. The women start their season on November 9 at Lock Haven with their first home game against Bloomsburg on November 16 starting at 2 p.m.
SUBJECT: Wilmington Men’s Basketball Participates in Light The Night Walk in Downtown Wilmington
DATE: October 24, 2013
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WILMINGTON, Del. - - Prior to helping each other on the court for the 2013-14 season, the Wilmington University men’s basketball team helped others battling with leukemia and lymphoma by participating in the Light the Night Wilmington Walk on October 12.
The walk started at Frawley Stadium on the Riverfront of downtown Wilmington. The men’s team participated in the event to help raise funds and awareness in an effort to find an end to cancer.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light The Night Walk funds treatments that are saving the lives of patients today. LLS is making cures happen by providing patient support services, advocacy for lifesaving treatments and the most promising cancer research anywhere.
Friends, families, and co-workers from fundraising teams, and millions of consumers help by donating at retail outlets. These efforts culminate in inspirational, memorable evening Walks in nearly two hundred communities each fall across North America.
Light The Night Walk events are evenings filled with inspiration. During the leisurely walk, Champions for Cures carry illuminated balloons; white for survivors, red for supporters, and gold in memory of loved ones lost to cancer. Thousands of walkers from men, women, and children, form a community of caring, and bring light to the dark world of cancer.
To find a walk to participate in or to donate to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, visit the Light The Night official website at www.lightthenight.org.
SUBJECT: Wilmington Golfers Finish First Round at Guy Harvey Invitational Before Weather Cuts the Day Short
DATE: October 7, 2013
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PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. - - Before the rain came and washed away the rest of the second round on Monday, the Wilmington University golf team finished the first round in 13th place at the Guy Harvey Invitational hosted by Nova Southeastern at the PGA National Fazio Course.
The team shot a 301 to sit in 13th out of 16 teams after the first round of place, with the second round cut short due to weather. The golfers will finish their second round starting Tuesday morning at 8:15 a.m., followed by the third round of play.
Senior Jerry Temple led the Wildcats in the first round, shooting a 72 even par score in his first 18 holes, sitting him in a tie for 10th place overall.
Senior Andrew Baldo finished with a two over par 74 for his first round and is in a tie for 31st overall on the leaderboard. Freshman Freddy Braun was the third best Wildcat on Monday afternoon, finishing with a 77, five over par to sit in a tie for 59th overall.
Rounding out the Wildcat scoring was sophomore Andreas Lunding who is currently in a tie for 67th overall after shooting a six over, 78, in the first round.
Senior Tomasz Pulsakowski was the final competitor on the course for the Wildcats on Monday and he shot an 81, nine over par in the first round, placing him in a tie for 79th overall.
Rollins College sits atop the leaderboard after the first round, as it shot a 286 as a team, coming in at two under par. Barry is second after the first round with a 290, plus two for the day. Host Nova Southeastern rounds out the top three teams of the tournament, finishing with a 291, three over par in the first round.
Four players are tied atop the standings after the opening 18 holes, as all four shot a two under 70 for the day. Armstrong Atlantic’s Shad Tuten, Barry’s Mario Beltran and Eirik Grouenhaug, and Lynn’s Martin Cancino are all tied for first.
SUBJECT: CACC Names Wilmington’s Jesus Amezquita and Katie Shorter Players of the Week in Weekly Report
DATE: October 7, 2013
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NEW HAVEN, Conn. - - Wilmington University student-athletes Jesus Amezquita and Katie Shorter have each been recognized as Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Players of the Week in their respective sports, announced by the conference office on Monday.
For both Amezquita and Shorter it is the first time in 2013 they have been named a Player of the Week for their sports. Amezquita was named the Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week while Shorter was named the CACC Volleyball Co-Defensive Player of the Week.
Amezquita paced the Wildcats to an 18th place finish at the highly touted Paul Short Invitational host by Lehigh University on Saturday. Despite running in unusual hot and humid weather, the sophomore led all Wildcats and CACC representatives with a 23rd place finish among a field of 372 runners. He finished the 8K race in a time of 25:57.
Shorter, who was named Co-Defensive Player of the Week with Chestnut Hill’s Regina Trabosh, led the Wildcats to a 2-1 week against three of the CACC’s top teams. The senior led the team with averaging 2.96 points per set against Philadelphia, Holy Family, and Caldwell. She collected six solo blocks while adding 17 block assists, averaging 1.77 blocks per set on the week. Shorter had three solo blocks and eight block assists at Holy Family before coming back and collected a solo block and eight more block assists at Caldwell. Shorter is first in the CACC with averaging 1.08 blocks per set on the season.
Men’s soccer standout Elton Joe was named in the CACC Men’s Soccer Weekly Report on the Weekly Honor Roll after scoring three goals and adding an assist in two games this week. He tallied two goals and an assist against West Chester before scoring the team’s lone goal against No. 15 Post on Saturday.
SUBJECT: Wilmington Volleyball Scores First Victory of 2013 with 3-1 Victory over CACC Foe Chestnut Hill
DATE: September 11, 2013
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PHILADELPHIA - - Aided by a strong offensive attack in the fourth set and an advantage at the net, the Wilmington University volleyball team picked up its first win of the 2013 season, a 3-1 victory over Chestnut Hill on Wednesday night in Sorgenti Arena.
Set scores for the match were 22-25, 25-12, 25-17, and 25-17.
After dropping the first set, Wilmington (1-3, 1-0 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference) came back and swept the next three sets, using a .414 attack percentage in the fourth set to close out the match. Chestnut Hill (0-4, 0-1 CACC) scored five straight points to take a 24-20 first set led before closing out the game to take the lead.
The Wildcats came out in the second set and dominated from the beginning, jumping out to a 10-4 lead on the strength of six straight points to break a 4-4 tie. Once the Griffins cut the deficit to 11-8, the Wildcats powered its way to nine consecutive points, with two kills by freshman Allison Briley, to take a 20-9 lead. Sophomore Kaitlin DiGiacinto gave the visitors set point before a Griffin attack error gave the Wildcats the game.
With the Wildcats trailing 5-2 early in the third set, the Wildcats rattled off 13 of the next 15 points to take command of the game. Junior Kasey Couch, a bad set, and a double block put the Wildcats up 20-12 before a solo block by Hannah McQueen gave Wilmington the set and the 2-1 match advantage.
The fourth set was the best offensively for the Wildcats, as they put down 13 kills on 29 attempts with only one error for a .414 hitting percentage. Trailing 4-3, DiGiacinto started a run of five straight points for the Wildcats, which featured a pair of service aces by Alex Siolos. Another 6-0 sparked by a kill from Brittany Biddle and ended with a kill from Briley to put the Wildcats up 16-6 midway through the set. Leading 20-15, Wilmington scored five of the next seven points to close out the set, and the match, with McQueen putting down the final termination to win the set, 25-17.
Briley, a freshman from Monroeville, Pa., paced the offense with 13 kills on 33 swings, producing a .303 hitting percentage. DiGiacinto added 10 kills and 15 digs for the double-double while Siolos added her own double-double with a team high 19 assists and 12 digs. Couch chipped in with 18 assists while Shelby Henderson and Scarfo each added double-digit digs from the back row.
Shorter led the defense at the net with four block assists while adding a solo block for 2.5 total blocks. DiGiacinto and McQueen each added a solo block while Biddle, DiGiacinto, and McQueen chipped in with two block assists each as well. Overall, the Wildcats out-blocked the Griffins, 10-2, for the match.
Wilmington will look to carry the momentum from its first victory of the season into its second weekend tournament starting on Friday. The Wildcats head to St. Petersburg, Fla. to participate in the Eckerd College Classic for four matches. They start the tournament with matches against host Eckerd and Nova Southeastern on Friday afternoon.
Link: Wilmington Wildcat Report
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Men's and Women's Basketball
DATE: October 24, 2013
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NEW CASTLE, Del. - - Prior to clearing the bases with one swing of the bat in their fall season, the Wilmington University baseball team took time away from the diamond to clear the street and continue its annual Adopt A Highway program on Saturday, October 12.
“Anytime we can get out into the community and give back is a great day,” head coach Brian August, who will enter his tenth year at the helm of the Wildcats in the spring, said. “The community has been there for our baseball program through the years and we just want to show that we appreciate their support and want to give back.”
It is the fifth straight year August and his team has been a part of the Adopt A Highway campaign, starting the annual cleanup in 2008. The team swept through Route 273 between the First Baptist Church of New Castle and the backside of the New Castle Farmers’ Market.
In all, 40 players from the baseball team helped clean both sides of Route 273, clearing trash and debris along the highway.
The baseball team returns in 2014 as the three-time conference champions looking to progress forward towards a fourth straight Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Championship and NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament appearance in the spring.
Wilmington Women’s Soccer Falls, 1-0, on the Road
DATE: October 12, 2013
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BLOOMFIELD, N.J. - - The Wilmington University women’s soccer team fell in an early hole and could never recover, falling 1-0 on the road at Bloomfield in a much needed Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest on Saturday afternoon at Foley Field.
Looking to gain momentum after their 2-1 come-from-behind victory against Post last Saturday, the Wildcats (4-6-1, 4-3-1 CACC) went down early in the game for the second match in a row, but this time were unable to recover. Bloomfield (3-7-1, 2-3-1 CACC) snapped a two game losing streak, preserving the shutout after scoring in the second minute of the match.
Bloomfield senior Mikie Bradley gave the Lady Deacons the advantage just 65 seconds into the opening half, corralling a loose ball just outside the Wilmington 18-yard box and fired a shot past Wildcats goalkeeper Julia Brown which proved to be the game winner.
Unlike last week when the Wildcats were able to score late against Post to force overtime and eventually put away the game-winner, Wilmington was unable to figure out the back line of the Lady Deacons all afternoon. Bloomfield outshot the Wildcats, 13-12, while the Wildcats were able to earn one more corner, 2-1. Each team’s keeper needed to make seven saves on the afternoon.
Bloomfield senior keeper Sashagay Spence made seven saves her second shutout of the season in the win over the defending CACC Tournament champions, picking up her second shutout victory of the season in the win.
Victoria Vasapolli led the Wildcats with three shots, two of which reached Spence. Blair LaJudice also put two shots on frame, but was denied both times by Spence. Jenna Quaranta, Jordanne Hoesli-Atkins, and Rebecca Sowers each put one shot on goal in the match.
The Wildcats looks to rebound on Tuesday afternoon when they return to the WU Athletics Complex for another CACC contest, this time against Chestnut Hill. The opening draw is slated for a 3:30 p.m. start.
SUBJECT: Wildcats Exact Revenge on Holy Family, 3-1, in CACC Volleyball South Division Showdown
DATE: October 11, 2013
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NEWARK, Del. - - In as close to back-to-back matches against one team it is going to get, the Wilmington University volleyball team learned from its five set loss last week and scored the revenge by defeating Holy Family, 3-1, on Friday night at the WU Athletics Complex.
Set scores for the match were 25-18, 23-25, 25-16, and 25-17.
The loss on the road last week in Philadelphia was the first Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference South Division regular season loss since 2011 for the Wildcats (12-8, 7-1 CACC), but they returned home to tame the Tigers (8-10, 5-4 CACC) in their second match of the season.
Wilmington held the Tigers to a team hitting percentage of .082 for the match, while the Wildcats collected a .305 attack percentage, including a match high .333 in the fourth and final set. The defense also out-blocked, 7-5, and out dug, 59-52, the Tigers for the match.
Setter Kasey Couch and Alex Siolos spread the offense around and helped the back row on defense as each collected a double-double on the night. Both Couch and Siolos dished out 20 assists each, but Couch held the edge with 13 digs. Siolos ended with 10 digs. Tonight was Siolos’ eighth double-double of the season, a team high, while Couch collected her seventh double-double of the year.
The offense had three Wildcats in double figures, led by Kaitlin DiGiacinto’s 13 terminations. Freshman Allison Briley added 12 kills on a 33.3 percentage success rate while senior Brittany Biddle chipped in with 11 kills and a team high .421 attack percentage. Biddle’s 11 kills came on 19 swings with only three errors.
The Wildcats started quickly in the first set, as they came out and score the first eight points of the opening game before jumping to a 10-1 lead. But the Tigers fired back with five straight points of their own to cut the deficit to 10-6. Now leading 13-9, the Wildcats scored four straight and seven of the next nine points to up the advantage to 20-11, capped by back-to-back kills by Briley. A service error gave the ball back to the Wildcats leading 21-13, and kills by DiGiacinto, and Briley, and a block by Shorter pushed the Wildcats to set point, 24-13. The Tigers responded once again, scoring five consecutive points to put pressure on the home team before an attack error gave Wilmington the set, 25-18.
Wilmington took a 20-17 lead in the second set following four straight points, capped by a double block by Briley and Shorter. Kills by Siolos and DiGiacinto gave the Wildcats a 23-19 lead but it was the Tigers who rallied to take the set. Without giving up another point, the Tigers fought all the way back to claim the set, 25-23, ended on back-to-back kills by Sarah Ambach.
The Wildcats jumped out to another early lead in the third set, scoring seven straight points to take a 9-3 lead. Another four consecutive points pushed the lead to 13-5 before Briley’s kill gave the Wildcats a commanding 19-9 lead in the game. Once again, the Tigers would not go away quietly, as they scored five straight to close the gap to 19-14. But the Wildcats settled and scored six of the next eight points, including the final three, to take the third set, 25-16.
Short bursts of three and four consecutive points allowed the Wildcats to take control of the fourth set, and they opened with leads of 4-1, 10-4, and 12-5. The Tigers got within four at 12-8 but the Wildcats scored five of the next six points to open the lead to 17-9. After going back and forth, the Wildcats tallied three straight points on a kill by Biddle and back-to-back Tiger errors to put the game and match away, 25-17.
Katie Shorter tallied seven kill with a .375 attack percentage on the night while Siolos chipped in with five kills of her own. Shorter also led the team at the net, collecting three solo blocks and adding two block assists. Siolos added the only other solo block on the night. Couch led the team with her 13 digs followed by Shelby Henderson’s 12 and Annie Scarfo’s 11.
The Wildcats have little time to rest, as they return to the court on Saturday for a 12 p.m. match at the WU Athletics Complex. The team will host Bloomfield from the CACC North Division for its lone matchup of the regular season.
Saturday is the team’s Juvenile Diabetes Awareness match and they will be collected donations at the door. The Wildcats will also be selling Juvenile Diabetes bracelets and 50-50 raffle tickets throughout the match to raise money and awareness for the cause.
SUBJECT: Todd Woll’s First Career Goal Sends Wilmington Men’s Soccer to CACC Tie, 1-1, with Philadelphia
DATE: October 8, 2013
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NEWARK, Del. - - Senior Todd Woll picked a good time to score his first career goal as a member of the Wilmington University men’s soccer team on Tuesday, knotting the score of what turned into a 1-1 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference draw with Philadelphia at the WU Athletics Complex.
The Wildcats (8-3-1, 4-2-1 CACC) responded after going down a goal early in the second half, scoring in the 76th minute to finally tie the match. Philadelphia (7-3-1, 5-1-1 CACC) had a chance to end the match at the end of regulation, but a header off a corner was saved.
The Rams were able to get on the board first in the contest, scoring on a misplay in the back by the Wildcats’ defense. Failing to clear the ball out of their own penalty box, the Wildcats turned the ball over to the Rams’ Jordan Lynch on the right side, who beat Frank Hall to the near post for the 1-0 lead in the 53rd minute.
The Wildcats, who controlled the ball for the majority of the contest, led the Rams in shot, 12-10, and corners, 11-4, for the match, but couldn’t solve the Philadelphia defense until late.
On their eight corner of the game, the Wildcats finally broke through in the 76th minute. Freshman Geoff Velasquez’s corner carried over the Ram’s goalkeeper Thomas Attamante and towards the back post, but stayed out of the goal as it rung the crossbar and bounced out.
Woll, a senior defender, was there on the back post as he side volleyed the ball back towards the goal mouth. Philadelphia was able to head the ball away, but not before the ball completely crossed the goal line, knotting the game at 1-1.
Wilmington put five shots on the board in the two overtime periods and added a pair of corner kicks in the second 10 minutes, but couldn’t find the back of the net for the rest of the match. It was the first tie of the season for both the Rams and the Wildcats.
Starting goalkeeper Frank Hall recorded three saves in 80:28 of game play before an injury forced him out of the contest. Junior Spyros Stergiotis came on and tallied three saves while playing the reaming 29:32. The Rams’ Attamante needed to make three saves to escape with the tie.
Thursday’s match against the University of the District of Columbia, a government funded school, has been postponed due to the government shutdown. The two teams are searching for a rescheduled date later in the year, but is handcuffed until the government pays its bills.
Wilmington now returns to action on Saturday, as they head to CACC rival Bloomfield for their first road game since September 24. The match is slated for a 1 p.m. start.
SUBJECT: Middles Carry Wilmington Volleyball to 3-2 Victory over CACC North Leaders Caldwell
DATE: October 5, 2013
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CALDWELL, N.J. - - The Wilmington University volleyball team got back on track on Saturday, defeating Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference North Division leaders Caldwell College, 3-2, on Saturday afternoon at the Newman Center.
Set scores for the match were 22-25, 25-13, 25-10, 20-25, and 15-10.
After starting off slowly in the first set, the Wildcats (11-8, 6-1 CACC) came back and hit .423 in the second set, and .435 in the third set to start the comeback trail. Caldwell (9-8, 6-1 CACC) was able to tie the match at 2-2 with hitting .308 in the fourth set but the Wildcats battled back to claim the fifth and deciding set.
Despite hitting a .078 in the first set, the Wildcats continued to pound the opposite side of the net for the remainder of the match, finishing the day with a .259 attack percentage. They went tallied 47 kills with only 10 errors, on 107 swings in the final four sets, combining to hit .346 after the opening frame.
The second and third sets were all Wilmington, as the visitors opened up leads of 13-5, 17-7, and 20-8 in the second game before settling on a game of 25-13 to tie the match at 1-1. The Wildcats used a 6-0 run in the middle of the third set to open a 21-7 lead, before finishing out the frame with four of the final points to win going away, 25-10.
Wilmington jumped out to a large 8-1 lead in the fourth set, but the Cougars came back fighting to eventually tie the match at 2-2. After falling behind 8-1, Caldwell scored five of the next six, and eight of the next 11 points to crawl back within 11-9, forcing the Wildcats into a timeout. The home team eventually timed the set at 13-13, before moving in front for good with four straight points late, taking a 21-18 advantage. They tallied four of the next six points to take the set, 25-20.
The Wildcats again jumped out to an early lead in the fifth set, getting back to back kill by Katie Shorter to take the frame. Now, 2-1, the Wildcats scored four of the next five points, never letting the lead slip out of their hands the rest of the way.
Leading 10-8 in the final frame, Allison Briley and Shorter collected back-to-back kills before a Caldwell attack errors put Wilmington in front, 13-8. Kaitlin DiGiacinto gave the Wildcats match point with a kill, 14-9, before a bad set by the Cougars ends the game, and the match, 15-10.
Both middle hitters Shorter and Brittany Biddle led the charge for the Wildcats, as Biddle paced the offense with 15 kills. Shorter added 11 kills on a team high .429 hitting percentage. Biddle’s 15 kills came on 31 swings for a .419 attack percentage as well. DiGiacinto was the only other Wildcat to record double digit kills, finishing with 13.
Shorter was also the main ingredient in the Wildcats advantage at the net, with the team collecting 13 blocks to Caldwell’s five. Shorter finished with one solo and eight block assists. Biddle had the other solo block for the team, adding three block assists on the afternoon.
The Wildcats have a chance at redemption for their next match, as they welcome Holy Family to the WU Athletics Complex for a rematch on Friday. The Wildcats recently lost to the Tigers, 3-2, on Thursday in Philadelphia. Friday’s match is slated for a 7:00 p.m. start.
SUBJECT: Second Half Goal Trumps Wilmington Women’s Soccer, 1-0, at Holy Family
DATE: October 1, 2013
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PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - - A lone second half goal proved to be enough for the Holy Family women’s soccer team as it took down Wilmington, 1-0, in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action at Tiger Field on Tuesday afternoon.
With both teams among the best four to this point in the CACC, the Wildcats (3-5-1, 3-2-1 CACC) stout defense had a goal get by them in the 60th minute, keeping the Tigers (5-4, 4-1 CACC) one game out of first place.
Junior goalkeeper Julia Brown kept the Wildcats in the contest with eight saves, as the team was outshot, 19-7, in the match. Victoria Vasapolli led the offense, getting two of her three shots on frame, forcing the Tigers’ goalkeeper to make a save.
The Tigers were able to outshoot the Wildcats, 9-5, in the first half, but the visitors earned more corners, 2-0. The Wildcats had the Tigers on their heels around the 20 minute mark of the first half, as they put three shots on the board and registered the first corner of the match at 19:44. A shot by Kaitlyn Atmore following the corner was saved by Tigers’ goalkeeper Sienna Smith.
Holy Family came out in the second half and posted the first seven shots of the second half, the fourth by Brittany Robinson which beat Brown and the Wildcats’ defense for the 1-0 lead.
Wilmington returns to action this Saturday when it returns to the WU Athletics Complex for a 12 p.m. start. The Wildcats will host Post in a soccer doubleheader for their annual Breast Cancer Awareness contest. Show your support by wearing Pink to the contest. Donations to help fight the deadly disease will be available at the gate.
SUBJECT: Freshman Kim Richer Earns First Women’s Soccer CACC Rookie of the Week Award
DATE: October 1, 2013
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NEW HAVEN, Conn. - - In leading the Wilmington University women’s soccer team to a 1-0-1 record this past week, freshman Kim Richer has been named the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Rookie of the Week, announced by the conference office on Monday.
Richer (Shamong, N.J./Seneca) helped the team to a 2-1 victory over cross-town rival Goldey-Beacom on Wednesday before settling on a 1-1 tie with Caldwell on Saturday for Homecoming.
Against Goldey-Beacom, Richer tied the match in the 13th minute with a 25-yard strike, shooting high above the Lightning keeper to knot the score at 1-1. The freshman wasn’t done, however, as she put a cross from the left side to the top of the penalty box to an open Victoria Vasapolli who buried the shot for the 2-1 lead.
On Saturday, Richer made a long run down the left side to the touch line before putting a cross to the far post, again finding Vasapolli for a goal.
Richer is now second on the team with seven points, scoring two goals and adding a team high three assists on the year.
Vasapolli was named to the women’s soccer Weekly Honor Roll after scoring a goal in each of the two games this week. She leads the team with four goals and nine points on the year.
The Wildcats return to action today as they head to Holy Family for another CACC contest. Next chance to catch the Wildcats at home will be on Saturday when they welcome Post to the WU Athletics Contest in their annual Breast Cancer Awareness match.
SUBJECT: Parliament's Nine Saves Not Enough as Wilmington Women's Soccer Falls, 1-0, at Franklin Pierce
DATE: September 8, 2013
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RINDGE, N.H. - - Despite Kendal Parliament's nine saves in goal, the Wilmington University women's soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision on the road at Franklin Pierce, rounding out the opening weekend of action for the 2013 season on Sunday afternoon.
Much like the opening game on Friday, the defensive unit held in tact through an onslaught of shots by Franklin Pierce (1-1), as the defender turned goalkeeper Parliament recorded nine saves and initially stopped the shot that led to the Ravens' goal.
The Wildcats (0-2) were outshot 20-1 for the match and 15-0 in the first half alone before playing a more offensive game in the second 45 minutes.
Franklin Pierce scored the only goal it needed in the 36th minute off the foot of Eize Vieira. After initially making the save on the shot, the ball slipped through Parliament's hands and headed towards the goal line. Much to the displeasure of head coach Josh Ruggiero, the referee saw the ball completely cross the line prior to Parliament regaining control of the ball.
After heading into the break trailing 1-0, freshman Rebecca Sowers registered the team's lone shot in the 55th minute, sailing it wide of the goal.
The Wildcats registered a pair of first half corners as well, but were outnumbered for the match, 12-2, by the Ravens.
Wilmington remains on the road for another game, as it heads to Georgian Court on Thursday to opens the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference portion of its schedule. The game is slated to begin at 3:30 p.m. in Lakewood, N.J.
Link: Wilmington Wildcat Report
SUBJECT: Wildcats End Three Game Skid With 69-62 Nonconference Men’s Basketball Victory at Mercy
DATE: December 11, 2013
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DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. - - A 10-3 spurt in overtime sent the Wilmington University men’s basketball team to a 69-62 nonconference victory on the road at Mercy College, stopping a three-game losing streak in the process on Wednesday night.
Back-to-back buckets by Shaq Monroe-Gaskins, including a dunk to start the scoring kick-started the Wildcats (4-7 overall) in the extra period. Also aided by a pair of blocks on the defensive end by Ta’Vaune Griffin, the Wildcats raced out to a six point lead in overtime before hitting all four of their free-throws down to stretch to come away victorious.
Wilmington took its largest lead of the contest half way through the first half, turning a 5-2 deficit into a 14-5 lead, capped by a layup by Tyrik Gass with 11:10 to play.
But the Mavericks (0-7) instantly responded with an 8-0 run of their own, eventually tying the match at 16-16 at the 6:28 mark of the first half. The run continued for the home team as the Mavericks took the as large as a four point lead with 5:02 remaining.
Senior Herb Dennis flipped the score once again in favor of the Wildcats in the first half, moving them ahead for good in the opening 20 minutes with a layup with 2:43 to play. Now leading 28-26, Valentino Thompson started a 5-0 run with a layup before Dusan Koijic converted an old fashioned three-point play for the final points of the half, with the Wildcats leading 33-26.
Mercy battled back in the second half, however, taking a lead at 39-38 with 14:13 to play. The score went back and forth, trading hands three more times while also being tied four times in the second half.
Tied at 57-57, Monroe-Gaskins gave the Wildcats the lead with a layup with 2:05 to play, but a Mercy layup by Olajide Keshinro retied the match with 1:30 showing on the clock. The Mavericks missed three shots down the stretch while the Wildcats turned the ball over twice, forcing the game into the overtime period.
Griffin finished with his third double-double, all coming in the past four games, with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Dennis finished with a game high 15 points while Thompson nearly added his own double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds.
The Wildcats return home for their next contest, as they get back into Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action on Saturday. The team will host CACC South Division rival Holy Family starting at 3 p.m.
Team will also be holding their annual Alumni Game prior to Saturday’s game starting at 12 p.m. at the WU Athletics Complex. Fans are also encourages to bring monetary donations to the game to help the team buy toys for the University’s partnership in CBS 3’s Joy of Sharing Annual Toy Drive.
SUBJECT: Bentley Leads Wire-to-Wire in 90-50 Victory over Wilmington Men’s Basketball
DATE: November 9, 2013
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WALTHAM, Mass. - - Concluding the Bentley Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday, Bentley led wire-to-wire over the Wilmington University men’s basketball team, coming out with a 90-50 victory at the Dana Center.
Bentley (2-0 overall) took the lead with the game’s first back of the contest and never looked back, building as large as a 26 point lead at the end of the first half before gliding to a nonconference victory to open the 2013-14 season.
The Falcons took their largest lead of the game at 69-26 following a jumper by Jasper Grassa at the 12:01 mark of the second half before cruising to the 40 point victory to round out its home tournament.
Senior Herb Dennis led the Wildcats (0-2 overall) with 13 points on the night, shooting 5-of-16 from the floor while adding 3-of-3 from the foul line. He also led with a team high three assists during the contest.
Valentino Thompson chipped in with six points while adding a team high five rebounds in the contest. Sophomore Tajee Almon also added a team high five rebounds in the contest.
For the game, the Wildcats shot 25.8 percent from the field on 16-of-62 from the floor, hitting only 6-of-24 from beyond the three-point arc. Bentley, on the other hand, shot 52.4 percent from the floor for the match.
The Wildcats remain on the road for one more contest to start the 2013-14 season, as they head to St. Thomas Aquinas on Tuesday for an opening tip starting at 7 p.m.
SUBJECT: Halftime Lead Dissipates as Wilmington Men’s Basketball Falls, 84-71, in Season Opener against Merrimack
DATE: November 8, 2013
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WALTHAM, Mass. - - A halftime lead wasn’t enough in the 2013-14 season opener for the Wilmington University men’s basketball team, as Merrimack came back to score the 84-71 victory to kick off the Bentley Tip-Off on Friday night at the Dana Center.
Post play off the bench by Merrimack (1-0 overall) helped turn the game around in the second half after the Wildcats (0-1 overall) grabbed a 31-27 lead at the halftime break.
Even as the Warriors held a 15 point lead with 11:31 to play in the first half, the Wildcats bounced back and went on an 11-0 run before taking over the lead on a pair of free-throws by Herb Dennis with 4:31 remaining in the in the first half. In all, the Wildcats used a 20-4 run to turn the score around and take a 26-25 lead in the contest.
Nearing the end of the first half, freshman Paul Moore converted his first collegiate bucket with 4:15 remaining in the half to put the Wildcats in front by three points, 28-25. The lead grew to four points at the end of the first half as sophomore Shai Henry put in a layup with 57 seconds left, finishing off the scoring in the first 20 minutes.
It didn’t take long for the Warriors to turn the score around in the beginning of the second half, however, as they scored the first seven points of the second stanza, taking the lead for good in the game with a pair of free throws by JT Strickland at the 18:46 mark. The lead grew to as many as 12 for Merrimack at 54-42 with 11:04 remaining in regulation before the Wildcats made their second half run.
Shrinking the lead to as few as four points, the Wildcats run fell short inside the final five minutes as the Warriors were able to hold off Wilmington to pick up the victory in the season opener for both teams. Dennis hit a three pointer to close the gap to 63-59 with 5:54 remaining in regulation, but the Warriors quickly extended the lead back out to nine points with a layup and a three-pointer with 5:25 to play.
That would be as close as the Wildcats would get the rest of the way.
Dennis led the Wildcats with a game high 24 points to begin his senior season, shooting 9-for-17 from the floor including 4-of-6 from the foul line. Junior transfer Valentino Thompson was the only other Wildcat to tally double digit in points, putting 14 points on the board on 5-of-10 shooting from the floor and 4-of-5 shooting from the foul line, while adding a game high seven assists in his Wildcat debut. Sophomore transfer Ta’Vaune Griffin led the Wildcats with 10 rebounds off the bench in his Wildcat debut.
Wilmington remains in Waltham, Mass. for one more contest to begin the 2013-14 campaign. Wilmington will square off against host Bentley to conclude the Bentley Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday night. The opening tip is scheduled to be thrown at 8 p.m.
SUBJECT: Wilmington Basketball Programs Welcome Matt O’Brien and Candice Walker on Staff for 2013-14
DATE: October 24, 2013
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NEWARK, Del. - - Preparing to start a new season on the court, the Wilmington University basketball programs each added personnel to the bench in adding Matt O’Brien and Candice Walker to the men’s and women’s coaching staff, respectively.
O’Brien joins the men’s staff as an assistant after seven years as an assistant at Eastern University. Prior to coaching at Eastern, O’Brien was a four year letterwinner for the basketball team at Grove City College in Grove City, Pa.
"Matt has a ton of contacts all over the area and is known as one of the best recruiters in the Mid-Atlantic Region,” fifth year head coach Mike Gallagher said. “He will be a tremendous asset to our program. In my opinion, along with our current assistants Harrison Singer and Vernon Dupree, the addition of Matt gives us one of the best recruiting staffs in the CACC (Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference)."
He helped lead the Eagles to four conference tournament semifinal appearances between the PAC and the MAC conferences. While mainly focusing on the post positions, O’Brien helped coach six all-conference selections during his tenure at Eastern, including three first-team honorees.
While at Eastern, O’Brien was also the JV Head Coach, implementing the skill development and program play book to the student-athletes on the freshman team. He was also responsible for organizing the team’s travel and meal arrangements, as well as the budget of the JV program.
Walker joins the women’s staff after a successful career on the court for the Loyola University Maryland Greyhounds.
Walker, a native of Baltimore, Md., was a four-year letterwinner for the Greyhounds, completing her senior season on the court in 2012-13. Her career started off by being named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team in 2007-08 after becoming the first true freshman to start for Loyola at the point guard position since the 1991-92 season.
“I had the pleasure of recruiting and coaching Candice at the high school level,” second year head coach Tiffany Silver said. “She was a coaches’ model point guard. Her work ethic and success through high school and college makes her a fantastic addition to my staff. She's ambitious, passionate, and hungry to make her mark at Wilmington. The best person to hire, in my opinion, is one of the best point guards to ever play for me. The girls love her energy and have adapted and welcomed her from day one.”
As a freshman, Walker led the MAAC rookies with 252 points and 93 assists while also leading the conference rookies in minutes played. She was named MAAC Rookie of the Week four times as a freshman. She played, and started, in all 30 games for the 2007-08 season. As a sophomore, she again led her team in assists, tallying 74 with a career high eight against Towson.
Injuries plagued her junior and senior seasons, but Walker was granted a medical hardship to compete in her sixth season as a Greyhound, finishing out her career during the 2012-13 season. She came back and played in 18 games last year, making one start. She scored a season high five points against Maryland and added a season high three assists twice.
Walker has worked as a coach at the Point Guard College and is a graduate from WBCA’s “So You Want To Be A Coach” at last season’s NCAA Division I Women’s Final Four.
The men’s 2013-14 schedule begins at the Bentley Tip-Off on November 8-9, with the first chance to catch them at the WU Athletics Complex on November 14 against Millersville at 7 p.m. The women start their season on November 9 at Lock Haven with their first home game against Bloomsburg on November 16 starting at 2 p.m.
SUBJECT: Wilmington Men’s Basketball Participates in Light The Night Walk in Downtown Wilmington
DATE: October 24, 2013
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WILMINGTON, Del. - - Prior to helping each other on the court for the 2013-14 season, the Wilmington University men’s basketball team helped others battling with leukemia and lymphoma by participating in the Light the Night Wilmington Walk on October 12.
The walk started at Frawley Stadium on the Riverfront of downtown Wilmington. The men’s team participated in the event to help raise funds and awareness in an effort to find an end to cancer.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light The Night Walk funds treatments that are saving the lives of patients today. LLS is making cures happen by providing patient support services, advocacy for lifesaving treatments and the most promising cancer research anywhere.
Friends, families, and co-workers from fundraising teams, and millions of consumers help by donating at retail outlets. These efforts culminate in inspirational, memorable evening Walks in nearly two hundred communities each fall across North America.
Light The Night Walk events are evenings filled with inspiration. During the leisurely walk, Champions for Cures carry illuminated balloons; white for survivors, red for supporters, and gold in memory of loved ones lost to cancer. Thousands of walkers from men, women, and children, form a community of caring, and bring light to the dark world of cancer.
To find a walk to participate in or to donate to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, visit the Light The Night official website at www.lightthenight.org.
SUBJECT: Wilmington Golfers Finish First Round at Guy Harvey Invitational Before Weather Cuts the Day Short
DATE: October 7, 2013
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PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. - - Before the rain came and washed away the rest of the second round on Monday, the Wilmington University golf team finished the first round in 13th place at the Guy Harvey Invitational hosted by Nova Southeastern at the PGA National Fazio Course.
The team shot a 301 to sit in 13th out of 16 teams after the first round of place, with the second round cut short due to weather. The golfers will finish their second round starting Tuesday morning at 8:15 a.m., followed by the third round of play.
Senior Jerry Temple led the Wildcats in the first round, shooting a 72 even par score in his first 18 holes, sitting him in a tie for 10th place overall.
Senior Andrew Baldo finished with a two over par 74 for his first round and is in a tie for 31st overall on the leaderboard. Freshman Freddy Braun was the third best Wildcat on Monday afternoon, finishing with a 77, five over par to sit in a tie for 59th overall.
Rounding out the Wildcat scoring was sophomore Andreas Lunding who is currently in a tie for 67th overall after shooting a six over, 78, in the first round.
Senior Tomasz Pulsakowski was the final competitor on the course for the Wildcats on Monday and he shot an 81, nine over par in the first round, placing him in a tie for 79th overall.
Rollins College sits atop the leaderboard after the first round, as it shot a 286 as a team, coming in at two under par. Barry is second after the first round with a 290, plus two for the day. Host Nova Southeastern rounds out the top three teams of the tournament, finishing with a 291, three over par in the first round.
Four players are tied atop the standings after the opening 18 holes, as all four shot a two under 70 for the day. Armstrong Atlantic’s Shad Tuten, Barry’s Mario Beltran and Eirik Grouenhaug, and Lynn’s Martin Cancino are all tied for first.
SUBJECT: CACC Names Wilmington’s Jesus Amezquita and Katie Shorter Players of the Week in Weekly Report
DATE: October 7, 2013
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NEW HAVEN, Conn. - - Wilmington University student-athletes Jesus Amezquita and Katie Shorter have each been recognized as Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Players of the Week in their respective sports, announced by the conference office on Monday.
For both Amezquita and Shorter it is the first time in 2013 they have been named a Player of the Week for their sports. Amezquita was named the Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week while Shorter was named the CACC Volleyball Co-Defensive Player of the Week.
Amezquita paced the Wildcats to an 18th place finish at the highly touted Paul Short Invitational host by Lehigh University on Saturday. Despite running in unusual hot and humid weather, the sophomore led all Wildcats and CACC representatives with a 23rd place finish among a field of 372 runners. He finished the 8K race in a time of 25:57.
Shorter, who was named Co-Defensive Player of the Week with Chestnut Hill’s Regina Trabosh, led the Wildcats to a 2-1 week against three of the CACC’s top teams. The senior led the team with averaging 2.96 points per set against Philadelphia, Holy Family, and Caldwell. She collected six solo blocks while adding 17 block assists, averaging 1.77 blocks per set on the week. Shorter had three solo blocks and eight block assists at Holy Family before coming back and collected a solo block and eight more block assists at Caldwell. Shorter is first in the CACC with averaging 1.08 blocks per set on the season.
Men’s soccer standout Elton Joe was named in the CACC Men’s Soccer Weekly Report on the Weekly Honor Roll after scoring three goals and adding an assist in two games this week. He tallied two goals and an assist against West Chester before scoring the team’s lone goal against No. 15 Post on Saturday.
SUBJECT: Wilmington Volleyball Scores First Victory of 2013 with 3-1 Victory over CACC Foe Chestnut Hill
DATE: September 11, 2013
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PHILADELPHIA - - Aided by a strong offensive attack in the fourth set and an advantage at the net, the Wilmington University volleyball team picked up its first win of the 2013 season, a 3-1 victory over Chestnut Hill on Wednesday night in Sorgenti Arena.
Set scores for the match were 22-25, 25-12, 25-17, and 25-17.
After dropping the first set, Wilmington (1-3, 1-0 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference) came back and swept the next three sets, using a .414 attack percentage in the fourth set to close out the match. Chestnut Hill (0-4, 0-1 CACC) scored five straight points to take a 24-20 first set led before closing out the game to take the lead.
The Wildcats came out in the second set and dominated from the beginning, jumping out to a 10-4 lead on the strength of six straight points to break a 4-4 tie. Once the Griffins cut the deficit to 11-8, the Wildcats powered its way to nine consecutive points, with two kills by freshman Allison Briley, to take a 20-9 lead. Sophomore Kaitlin DiGiacinto gave the visitors set point before a Griffin attack error gave the Wildcats the game.
With the Wildcats trailing 5-2 early in the third set, the Wildcats rattled off 13 of the next 15 points to take command of the game. Junior Kasey Couch, a bad set, and a double block put the Wildcats up 20-12 before a solo block by Hannah McQueen gave Wilmington the set and the 2-1 match advantage.
The fourth set was the best offensively for the Wildcats, as they put down 13 kills on 29 attempts with only one error for a .414 hitting percentage. Trailing 4-3, DiGiacinto started a run of five straight points for the Wildcats, which featured a pair of service aces by Alex Siolos. Another 6-0 sparked by a kill from Brittany Biddle and ended with a kill from Briley to put the Wildcats up 16-6 midway through the set. Leading 20-15, Wilmington scored five of the next seven points to close out the set, and the match, with McQueen putting down the final termination to win the set, 25-17.
Briley, a freshman from Monroeville, Pa., paced the offense with 13 kills on 33 swings, producing a .303 hitting percentage. DiGiacinto added 10 kills and 15 digs for the double-double while Siolos added her own double-double with a team high 19 assists and 12 digs. Couch chipped in with 18 assists while Shelby Henderson and Scarfo each added double-digit digs from the back row.
Shorter led the defense at the net with four block assists while adding a solo block for 2.5 total blocks. DiGiacinto and McQueen each added a solo block while Biddle, DiGiacinto, and McQueen chipped in with two block assists each as well. Overall, the Wildcats out-blocked the Griffins, 10-2, for the match.
Wilmington will look to carry the momentum from its first victory of the season into its second weekend tournament starting on Friday. The Wildcats head to St. Petersburg, Fla. to participate in the Eckerd College Classic for four matches. They start the tournament with matches against host Eckerd and Nova Southeastern on Friday afternoon.
Link: Wilmington Wildcat Report
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Men's and Women's Basketball