Blue Hens Persistence Pays Off In 2-1 Win at UNCW

Sunday, October 14

Wilmington, NC

1:00 PM

University of Delaware

3-11-1, 2-5-0CAA

University of North Carolina Wilmington

8-5-0, 2-4-0CAA

Delaware

UNCW

Photo by: Joe Browning/UNCW Athletics

10/14/2018 5:08:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

WILMINGTON, N.C. – Stay the course. Stay the course. Stay the course.

The phrase was continually uttered in the University of Delaware women's soccer locker room this fall.

In a season full of adversity and frustration, the Blue Hens came together at the right time and because of it find themselves right in the hunt for the CAA Tournament. Delaware traveled to UNCW and came away a 2-1 winner, their second league victory and now sit just one point out of the final playoff spot with two games to play.

The first 30 minutes of the game was played mostly in the midfield with neither team having many scoring chances.

In the 31^stminute, UNCW would try and pressure down the left side, but Kamryn Stablein would come out and gather up the loose ball. Stablein then punted one into the midfield, where Sara D'Appolonia gathered and fed a sprinting Riley Dixon. Dixon then lofted a shot into the bottom right corner of the net from 25 yards out to give the Blue Hens a 1-0 lead.

UNCW would respond with just under five minutes to play in the first half, scoring off a corner kick to send the game into the half tied at 1-1.

The second half would start much like the first with neither team finding many opportunities to attack the net.

In the 65^thminute, the Blue Hens persistence paid off when Dixon dribbled along the end line and slid a pass into the box for Toni Starova, who found the back of the net for her first collegiate goal and a 2-1 Delaware advantage.

From there, the Blue Hens used their possession style of play to limit the Seahawks to just one shot for the remainder of the game and hold on for the victory.

Quotable

"I'm really happy for these kids. They are working hard every day and proving that you can face adversity and come out on the other side better for it. Riley Dixon is playing as well as I've ever seen and we had a few other really strong performances today. The difference between teams in this league is razor thin, it's nice to come home on the right side of this one." – Head Coach Mike Barroqueiro

"Today's win was much needed to prove to ourselves that our hard work is paying off. We have played multiple games this season where we just couldn't get the final product and today we got it against a solid team in our conference. Coming off a Friday night overtime game and then a travel day Saturday, we were all obviously tired, so we focused really hard on controlling what we can control this game and I think that's why we ended up with a win. When we needed people to step up, they ended up doing just that and it was an overall huge team performance for us." - Sophomore Riley Dixon

Up Next

The Blue Hens wrap up their home schedule on Thursday, October 18 when the Tribe of William & Mary visits Newark. Game time at Grant Stadium is set for 7 p.m.