WILMINGTON, North Carolina – UNCW used three goals in an eight-minute span to erase an early deficit and earn its first Colonial Athletic Association win of the season with a 4-2 men's soccer victory over Delaware at the UNCW Soccer Stadium on Saturday evening.
The Seahawks, who opened a three-game homestand, improved to 5-3-0 overall and 1-1 in the CAA. Delaware, meanwhile, stands 0-6-1 overall and 0-3-0 in league play.
Delaware took a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute. Freshman defender
Einar Hardarson sent a pass from the top of the penalty area to sophomore forward
Carlos Fernandez, who slipped a shot inside the near post for his second goal of the year.
But, UNCW answered by scoring three consecutive goals for a 3-1 advantage to close the first half. Graduate student forward
Nicolas Molina got the run started in the 37th minute, heading in a crossing pass from graduate student defender
Michael Hornsby for his team-leading fifth goal of the season.
Just under seven minutes later, junior forward
Parker Norris gave the Seahawks a 2-1 lead when he scored his first goal of the year on a header after graduate student forward
Jacob Evans sent a crossing pass into the penalty area.
With 36 seconds remaining in the opening stanza, junior midfielder
Omar Aboutaleb converted a pass from Hornsby for his second goal of the year and a two-goal UNCW lead at the intermission.
Delaware trimmed the margin to 3-2 at the 47:16 mark when Hardarson scored the first goal of his college career off an assist from Fernandez. But, the Seahawks countered in the 63rd minute as junior midfielder
Gabe Mercer completed the scoring with his first goal of the year.
Junior goalkeeper
Gabriel Perrotta made four saves in the win for the Seahawks, who held a commanding 21-12 shots advantage over Delaware.
Junior goalkeeper
Scott Sampson, making his third start of the season, matched his season high with seven saves.
UNCW continues its homestand on Wednesday, Sept. 29, with a non-conference game against North Carolina at 7 p.m. Delaware visits UMBC for a non-conference fixture on Tuesday, Sept. 28, at 7 p.m.
