The inability to close halves ultimately led to defeat for the Wilmington College women’s soccer team as the Fightin’ Quakers lost 3-1 to Franklin Saturday in non-conference action at Townsend Field.

Franklin scored twice in the final three minutes of the first half to turn Wilmington’s 1-0 lead into a 2-1 deficit. The second of the two tallies came with 45 seconds remaining in the half.

“When you are up 1-0 and you give up two goals in the last five minutes – you are not going to win that way,” said Wilmington head coach Steve Spirk. “In the second half, we created some opportunities and we just didn’t get the ball in. The last goal they caught us unorganized in the back and that was the difference.”

Freshman Katie Evans (Leesburg, OH/Leesburg-Fairfield) scored Wilmington’s only goal as her shot from 17 yards out went through the goalkeepers hands, and trickled over the line.

Wilmington had plenty of opportunities to add to its tally, launching 16 shots – eight of which were on frame.

The Grizzlies sealed the match with a goal in the 89th minute.

In her first start of the season, sophomore Ana Hosler (Blanchester, OH/Blanchester) yielded three goals on seven shots to absorb the loss (0-1).

Wilmington (2-3) stays home to face Earlham 7 p.m. Wednesday.