Wheeling, W. Va. – With friends, family, and Alumni on campus this weekend, the Wheeling Women's Soccer team (4-7, 4-5) returns home looking for a bounce back. They host Frostburg State in their Homecoming and Family Weekend matchup with kick-off scheduled for 5 PM. Wheeling is looking to bounce back after a short three-game slide as they continue to chase down a Mountain East Conference (MEC) Tournament spot for the first time in program history.

Last time out, things didn't go the Cardinal's way as they fell to the University of Charleston 8-1. Early on, the Golden Eagles possessed the ball for the majority of the first half as the Cardinals got off just five shots, with two of those shots put on net. Talynn DeBartolo and Braedynn Porter each put one of those shots on net, but Charleston would have a five-goal attack and headed into the locker room down by that same 5-0 score. In the second half, the Cardinals had many more offensive opportunities, with nine shots taken, and got their lone goal. It would come courtesy of DiFonzo in the 76th minute, but it wouldn't be enough as the Cardinals fell 8-1 and dropped to 4-5 in conference play.

During the current skid, DiFonzo has been a bright spot for the team, leading the offensive attack. She accounted for six of her team's 14 shots and four of their nine shots on net. Over her last four games, the sophomore has taken 17 shots, putting 15 on goal, and has found the back of the net two times. She already has a career-best four goals on the season and is tied with teammate Kenadee Burgoyne for the team lead in goals this season. DiFonzo also leads the team in assists (3), shots (41), and shots on goal (26). She has been getting increased opportunities each week and Head Coach Emmanuel Awotula wants her to keep building confidence in her shot.

Despite all the goals, freshman Sam Faulkner had her best game of the season so far. She played 46 minutes in the game and ended up making five saves in eight shots. Throughout the season, Faulkner has been entering in relief of Mikayla Yarwood, but this was the first time in her career that she entered in the second half. She got some big help from the front defensive line of Tayler Wells, Morgan McGhee, and Landree Wilkin as they did their best to keep their freshman Goalkeeper clean. Mikayla Yarwood got the start in the game for the Cardinals and faced eight shots while making three saves on the day.

Despite the slide, Wheeling continues to hold on to the number three spot in the MEC North Division Standings. They still sit a game and a half over West Liberty and 2.5 games ahead of Notre Dame College with seven games remaining. The Cardinals and Hilltoppers will still meet one more time this season in a game that has the potential to have an impact on seeding. Each of the Cardinals remaining Divisional games come against teams who are also in position to make the MEC Tournament, and they look to get back on track to ensure their first ever trip to the MEC tournament. This week, they get a crack at the top team in the Division as they try to climb back up into a position to host in the first round of the tournament.

The Matchup