Box Score WATERBURY, Conn. – The Philadelphia University women's soccer team will make its second straight appearance in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) championship match after holding off Caldwell, 2-1, in a semifinal match Friday afternoon in Municipal Stadium.
The Rams—making their fifth appearance in the CACC championship match since joining the conference in 2004—will take on top seed Wilmington (Del.) on Sunday, Nov. 4 at Post University's LaMoy Field at 11 a.m. Philadelphia, seeking its first CACC title since 2006, defeated Wilmington, 3-0, in the only regular season meeting between the teams back on Sept. 19 in Newark, Del. The winner of the match receives an automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament.
After facing a pair of Caldwell (14-5-0) shots in the opening 79 seconds, Philadelphia (13-4-0) settled down after went to work on offensively.
Sophomore midfielder Carla Chmielewski (Glassboro, N.J./Paul VI) struck in the 10th minute for her fourth goal of the season to give the Rams a 1-0. Junior forward Kristen Ferguson (Haddonfield, N.J/Haddonfield) assisted on the match-opening tally.
Senior keeper Kelli Kowalewski (Shamong, N.J./Seneca) stood tall in the 24th minute as she turned aside Natalie Migoya and Sarina Soriano to keep the match scoreless. Kowalewski finished the match with three saves.
The score remained 1-0 until the 50th minute when junior forward Janine Cascio (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) drove home a rebound that was left when senior midfielder Trisha Sileo (Islip, N.Y./Islip) knocked a shot off of the crossbar. The goal, which was the eventual match-winner, was Cascio's fifth of 2012.
Philadelphia continued to push offensively; taking four more shots at the Caldwell net over the next 21 minutes, but couldn't push anything else behind Cougar keeper Kristina Cabales—who finished the contest with 10 saves.
Caldwell cut the Philadelphia lead to 2-1 when Megan Ferrara scored an unassisted goal in the 71st minute.
With 40 seconds remaining in regulation, Kowalewski was called on to deny Soriano and preserve the one-goal lead.
Philadelphia outshot Caldwell, 19-8.
