Wheeling University Athletics

WHEELING, W.Va.---The Wheeling Jesuit men's soccer team (5-4, 3-1 WVIAC) played host to Shepherd University (3-5-1, 1-2 WVIAC) in a league match at James LaRosa Soccer Complex on Wednesday evening. Victor Picchio and Carlos Avila touched the back of the net in the first half which proved to be enough to lift the Cardinals to a 3-1 victory.
 
Picchio started the scoring in the 12^th minute as Luke Roan sent a corner kick into the box. Picchio bent the header around the SU keeper, and the Cardinals led 1-0. Twenty minutes later, Avila chased down a through ball from Ignacio Fernandez. As the ball approached the keeper, Avila continued to track it down. The Keeper rushed out and attempted to send the ball down field, but Avila rejected the attempt and placed the ball through the frame.
 
In the 40^th minute, the Rams cut the Cardinal lead in half as Shane Lowery headed a shot into the goal off a corner kick by Abel Setegn. The Cardinals carried a 2-1 advantage into halftime.
 
After the break, George Noubossie and Philip Mshelbwala controlled the midfield play, and Jesuit's back line of Elliott Falconer, J.J. Hawkshaw, Jeff Cancelmi, Tom Walsh and Gonzalo Arroyo shut down the second-half Ram attack. In the 64^th minute, Jesuit extended the lead to 3-1 as Roan sent a corner kick into the box, and Cancelmi was there to put the ball into the net.
 
Wheeling Jesuit outshot the Rams 14-9 and WJU keeper Cody Thompson collected three saves in the WVIAC victory.
 
The Cardinals will back in action on Saturday, September 29 at James LaRosa Soccer Complex against the Concord University. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m.