VIDEO INTERVIEW - HEAD COACH CORY BUCUR
WILMINGTON, Ohio - After seeing its season end at home to conclude the 2021 fall season, the Wilmington College men's soccer team, comprised of many of the same student-athletes from a year ago, ensured that wouldn't happen in 2022 as the Fightin' Quakers shutout the University of Mount Union 4-0 in an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Tournament quarterfinal on Tuesday evening.
The Purple Raiders, which scored a goal in the final minute of the teams' 3-3 tie on Oct. 22 during the regular season, nearly opened the scoring twice in the first 20 minutes. Leading scorer Jamon McCord found an inch of space near the top of the box and fired a shot with his left foot aimed at the top corner on the near side in the 15th minute. A diving Thomas Grimes didn't quite reach the ball, but luckily for the hosts, it was slightly deflected by a defender and sailed just wide. Five minutes later, Rylan Wickle took a touch to the inside and curled a shot towards the far corner. It didn't curl quite enough, however, as it caromed off the post and out of bounds.
Midway through the half, Jeffry Vasquez had two chances at goal. The senior's first shot was saved by Lucas Fields, but less than 30 seconds later, the Long Island, New York native broke free and beat Purple Raider goalkeeper Lucas Fields the ball. This time, the visitors were the fortunate ones as Vasquez's shot trickled just wide of the far post. After about 20 minutes of a torrid playing pace from both teams, the half appeared to be ending scoreless. Wilmington had one final chance, however, as Elorm Dogbey earned the team a free kick in the final minute. Grant Murry lobbed a ball into the box, and it found the feet of Nick In'tZand, who scored his third goal in as many games.
The 15-minute halftime break didn't cool down the Quakers as less than two minutes into the second half, Vasquez took a pass from Alfie Harris and gave it right back to him as the sophomore from North Molton, England scored with a left-footed strike at close range. Mount Union would take the next nine shots, but couldn't break through Grimes and the WC back line, and in the 77th minute, Sakarias Bahamondez all but put the game away with a 25-yard strike. Brady Vilvens would assist on JJ Riggsby's goal to close out the scoring in the 88th minute.
Mount Union outshot Wilmington 20-10, but shots on goal were equal at 7-7. Grimes improved to 9-4-2 on the year making all seven saves while Field took the loss allowing three goals with three saves. Fifth-year senior Mikey Contreras finished the final couple of minutes in net for the Purple Raiders and gave up the final goal.
Wilmington (11-5-2), the No. 4 seed, advances to an OAC Tournament semifinal at top-ranked Ohio Northern University on Thursday. Kickoff in Ada is slated for 4 p.m.
