Wheeling, W. Va. – On Wednesday night, the Wheeling University Women's Soccer team (3-9-1, 2-8-1) were back home at Bishop Schmitt Field on Wednesday when they hosted Fairnont State. It took overtime, but a golden goal sunk the Cardinals in the 99^th minute of the game as they fell 2-1.

In the first meeting of the year between these two teams, it was Wheeling that got off to a fast start, scoring two goals in the first seven minutes. This time around, Fairmont returned the favor scoring their first goal in the fourth minute of the game. Kiera Kozinski took the ball up the field and found the net to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. The Falcons kept pressing throughout the first half, and outshot Wheeling 13-5 over the first 45 minutes of play. However, senior goalkeeper Mikayla Yarwood kept her team in the game by making six saves on seven shots faced in the first half.

Wheeling would reward their goalkeepers efforts in the 37^th minute when they tied the game at 1-1. Senior Braedynn Porter made a run up the field, and swerved around the keeper. She then tapped the ball in from about two yards out to make it a 1-1 game. The team's would go into halftime with that score standing, and Wheeling looking for their opportunity. The Falcons possessed the ball for a majority of the first half, but thank to the Cardinals strong defensive effort, they were, still very much in the game. They just needed to start moving the ball more on offense and create more opportunities.

In the second half, Wheeling's offensive game did step up, possessing the ball more throughout the half. The Cardinals limited the Falcons to just six second half shots and got off four themselves. However, the final 45 minutes we're uneventful for both teams, and it would force an over time period. Through the first nine minutes of that extra time, neither team got on the board. However, in the 99^th minute of the game, the Falcons broke through with the golden goal to win the game. It came off the foot I Ari Christiansen, who took a pass from Tristen Bright, and handed Wheeling the loss.

Porter led the Wheeling offense with three shots, two on goal, while Talynn DeBartolo added two shots, one on goal. As a team, Wheeling was very efficient with nine shots, and five of those shots on goal. Yarwood continued her strong season, setting a new season-high with 12 saves in the loss. She faced 14 shots on the night and kept the ball out of the net on all but two shots. The loss drops Wheeling to 3-9-1 on the season, as they head to the latter half of their schedule. They will be at home for most of the final four games are at home.

The Wheeling University Women's Soccer team is back in action on Saturday when they host Glenville State at 7 PM.