(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – Brian Mulholland's (Sr., Oracle, Ariz. / Canyon del Oro) goal with 3:11 left in the game gave Wilson a tie with Penn State Abington in the regular season finale on Saturday afternoon. The result helped secure the final playoff spot in the United East Championship as the Phoenix return to the postseason for a second consecutive season.
Wilson now moves on to the first round and head to Langhorne to take on Cairn on Tuesday at a time to be determined.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 1, Penn State Abington 1
Venue: Kris's Meadow
Records: Wilson 3-9-5, 1-4-3 UE; Penn State Abington 8-6-4, 6-1-1 UE
How It Happened
- Abington set the pace early as they registered the first eight shots of the game. Only one of them was on target, however, with Vincent Natale (Sr., Mt. Airy, Md. / Linganore) making the save in the 23rd minute. On the opposite side, the Phoenix were left off the shot chart until the 44th minute when Jace Williams (Jr., Chesapeake, Va. / Hickory) found an opening that veered out to the left and kept the game scoreless at the halftime break.
- The Lions kept the pressure on with a pair of early attempts in the second. While none of them reached the mark, the visitors eventually found the back of the net in the 60th minute on a free kick set up just outside the left center of the box. Aramis Shire took the kick and bent it inside the upper left 90 to give his team the lead.
- Williams had a couple of shots midway through the second, but it was his defensive work that helped make a difference for the Phoenix. After stealing possession away from Shire in Wilson's defensive end, he was able to flick it forward to midfield for Mulholland, and the Arizona native was able to do the rest of the work himself. Racing up the left side of the field, Mulholland outran a tailing Shire and avoided two additional defenders after cutting towards the center and boot it to the right side from 10 yards out for the equalizer. The Phoenix were able to defend from there and didn't yield a single shot.
Inside The Numbers
- Mulholland's goal was his second of the season and the 14th of his career.
- Wilson was outshot 18-5, but a solid defensive effort left the Lions with just four shots on goal. Natale was able to make the save on three of them.
- The Phoenix have not been defeated in their last four games setting a new program record.
Up Next
Wilson has earned the 10th seed and will head to Langhorne to take on No. 7 Cairn on Tuesday at a time to be determined.
