Wheeling, W. Va. - Earlier this week, the Wheeling University Men's Soccer team (6-9-1, 6-7-1) clinched a spot in the Mountain East Conference (MEC) playoffs for the first time since 2018 when West Liberty tied with West Virginia Wesleyan. Now, the race is on to clinch a first-round home playoff game when the Cardinals host Alderson Broaddus on Wednesday at 7:30 PM. Before the game, Wheeling will take the time to honor its senior class on senior night at around 7:15 PM.

Wheeling will be looking for a bounce back effort on the field this week, after dropping both contests last week, including a 4-1 loss to Davis & Elkins in their most recent game. Just like they did in their first meeting of the year, the Cardinals played the former #1 ranked team in Division II Men's Soccer. They were locked in a 0-0 tie for the first 45 minutes of the game, with both teams taking a lot of shots but not finding the net. The Cardinals were outshot 5-2 in that first half, and each team put just one shot on net as they headed to the locker room. In the second half, Davis & Elkins got on the board in the 47th minute and Wheeling responded with a Harry Martin goal four minutes later. However, the Senators added three more goals over the final 39 minutes and went on to win 4-1.

For Martin, it was goal number three on the season as he took the pass from teammate Richard Afolayanka before putting the ball in net. For Martin, it was his first goal since the Concord game in October 1st and breaks a four-game scoreless streak. Martin is currently Wheeling's third leading scorers this season, sitting four goals behind both Afolayanka and Diego Buenano for the team lead. Afolayanka also picked up his second assist of the season, pulling him into a three-way tie with Miguel Martin and Salem Mwelwa for second in the team. At times this season, the Cardinals offense has shown an ability to put up a lot of goals and the forwards look to work in tandem to get momentum going down the stretch.

After rotating goalies earlier in the season, injuries have had Senior Goalkeeper Austin Aaron getting a majority of the reps down the stretch. Against the Senators, Aaron pulled off five saves on the day on his nine shots faced, giving him five or more saves in each of his last two games and six of his last seven contests. He saved less than 70% of the shots he faced for the first time in the last four contests and looks to get back on track during this final week as he prepares to help his team on a run in the MEC playoff tournament.

With a playoff spot already clinched, Wheeling is looking to hold on to their fourth place standing in the conference so they can host a home playoff game in the first round. The Cardinals currently sit three points ahead of West Virginia Wesleyan for fourth in the conference and six points ahead of Frostburg State, who holds sixth. In order to clinch a home playoff game, the Cardinals need a win on Wednesday night or a West Virginia Wesleyan loss to Frostburg State. There is still a lot to play for the Cardinals as they look to get momentum on their side heading into the tournament.

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