WILMINGTON, Del.-Lukas Bentsen (Erie, Pa./McDowell) scored the first goal of 2026 for West Chester with a 70^th-minute tally, which helped the West Chester University men's soccer team (0-0-2) pick up a 1-1 draw at Wilmington (1-1-1) on Saturday afternoon in Delaware.

Wilmington took a 1-0 lead into the halftime break after a 21st-minute goal by Akira Itadani off an assist from Tyrell Moore.

Itadani's goal was the lone goal of the first half for either side as the Wildcats outshot West Chester by a 9-4 margin, despite West Chester holding a 2-1 lead in corner kicks.

West Chester did not record a shot on goal in the first half, but the tide began to turn in the second half.

In the 70^th minute, Bentsen scored West Chester's first goal of the 2026 season with an unassisted tally, tying the score at 1-1 with 20 minutes to play.

Wilmington continued to pressure the West Chester defense in the second half, ending the half with a 10-4 lead in shots, including a 6-2 advantage in shots on goal and a 2-1 lead in corners but Jaden Howard (Townsend, Del./Middletown) stood tall when the Golden Rams needed him most, making seven saves, including a final stop with just over a minute to play to help West Chester hold on for a 1-1 draw.

Howard's seven saves led the senior to his first result of the season, as he had his first action of 2026 after the Golden Rams match vs Jefferson was postponed and later canceled, and Alexi Amanatidis was picked as the starter for the match at Holy Family last weekend.

Eduardo Almansa made one save for Wilmington, stopping a Maksym Komperda (Whitehall, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) chance with under three minutes to play in the match, to also help preserve the draw.
Wilmington finished the afternoon with a 19-8 lead in shots, including an 8-2 lead in shots on goal, while corner kicks were tied at 3-3.

Up Next

West Chester will be back in action on Wednesday afternoon in New York against Mercy beginning at 3 p.m.