WATERBURY, Conn. - The third-seeded Thomas Jefferson University women's soccer team (12-5-1) scored twice in the second half to defeat fourth-seeded Wilmington (Del.), 2-0, and capture its third consecutive CACC title on Sunday.
 
The Rams also earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The bracket will be revealed via a live selection show on NCAA.com on Monday, November 15 at 6 p.m.
 
GAMEPLAY
The Wildcats controlled play early in the first half, totaling eight shots over the first 35 minutes to just two for the Rams. Jefferson kept the game scoreless, however, and began to gain momentum late in the period. The Rams peppered the Wilmington defense with five shots over the last seven minutes and had a pair of corner kicks. Despite the effort, Jefferson came away empty and the teams were scoreless at the break.
 
In the second period, the Wildcats came out strong at the start again, posting a 4-1 advantage in shots over the first 15 minutes. The tide turned, however, in the 65^th minute. After a Jefferson free kick by Grace Kenville was just off the mark, Wilmington cleared the ball out of the area. The Rams sent the ball forward again and sprung Emma Kuciapinski for a footrace with a Wildcats defender and the goalkeeper. The goalie punched the ball away but it caromed right off of the defender and into the goal for a 1-0 Jefferson lead.
 
Now playing with the edge, the Rams' back line locked it down, allowing just one Wilmington shot over the next 23 minutes. Jefferson continued to pressure and was rewarded with an insurance goal with 1:54 left in the contest. Devin Sullivan's shot was stopped by the keeper but Kiery Spatz followed up on the rebound and netted her third goal of the tournament to make it 2-0.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Shots: Jefferson, 18-15
Shots on Goal: Jefferson, 10-4
Saves: Wilmington, 8-4
Corner Kicks: Jefferson, 5-2
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Kiery Spatz: 1 goal, 2 shots, 1 on goal
Devin Sullivan: 1 assist, 6 shots, 3 on goal
Ava Albergo: 3 shots, 2 on goal
Liv Riddel: 4 saves
 
CACC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Gabrielle Marra was chosen the CACC Tournament MVP for her strong two-way presence in the midfield. The senior racked up seven shots (three on goal) and helped the Rams outscore their opponents 9-3 in their three tournament contests.
 
Marra was joined on the CACC All-Tournament Team by Payton Cole, Devin Sullivan, Kiery Spatz, Laural Erick, and Grace Kenville.
 
NOTES
- Jefferson is the first program to win three straight CACC titles in women's soccer since at least the 2000 season according to available records.
- It is the Rams' sixth CACC Championship in program history.
- Jefferson earned its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance all-time (2014, 2015, 2019) and the Rams will make back-to-back trips for the second time. There was no NCAA Tournament contested in the 2020-21 academic year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.