Fairmont, W. Va. – Entering the 2023 season, it had been 10 years since the Wheeling University Women's Soccer team (5-8-2, 2-7-2) had a player record a hat trick. On Sunday, the team recorded their third hat trick of the season, but it unfortunately wasn't enough as they fell to Fairmont State 4-3. Mary DiFonzo recorded the hat trick for the second straight game as the Cardinals still try to make a push for this year's MEC Tournament.

The three-goal effort was enough to push DiFonzo to her first double digit goal season of her career, leading the team with 11 goals. It wouldn't take her long to get on the board as the Cardinals got the ball after two Fairmont State shots were sent off target. In the sixth minute, DiFonzo made the push up foeld making moves around the defense to find the back of the net. The Cardinals were out in front 1-0 as they looked to continue their undefeated stretch when they score first. After two big saves for Kqira, Fairmont State would even the score in the 22nd minute on a goal by Serenity Thomas, and took the lead four minutes later as the Falcon's Kiera Kuzi ski made it a 2-1 Fairmont State advantage. The Cardinals took three more shots in the half, putting on on net, but the Cardinals would head into the locker room trailing 2-1.

Coming out of the half, DiFonzo nearly got on the board for the second time with a shot in the 45th minute, but it was saved by Fairmont State's Olivia Johnston. Neither team would get on the board om the next 30 minutes, and Wheeling's Olivia Kqira made that possible with two big saves. It wasn't until the 76th minute that the Cardinals got back on the board. After missing to start the half, DiFonzo once again brought the ball up the field. She would score her second goal of the afternoon as she got the ball in the back of the net unassisted to tie the game at 2-2. However, the Falcons took the ensuing kick-off and responded right away, putting the Cardinals in a 3-2 hole with just under 14 ticks left on the clock.

After another Falcon shot missed wide to the right, Fairmont State was back on the board in the 83rd minute as Isabella Maldonado would make it a teo-score game. Wheeling was down 4-2 and on the ensuing kick-off, Freshman Nyah Smith sent DiFonzo on a run. DiFonzo capitalized for her third goal of the afternoon to complete the hat trick and make it a 4-3 game. Kqira would come up with one more big save in the 86th minute to keep the Cardinal's hopes alive. Unfortunately, DiFonzo's third goal would be their final shot of the night as they would fall by that same 4-3 score. The loss keeps the Cardinal's at eight points in MEC play as they sit six points behind West Liberty for the final playoff spot in the MEC North.

Leading the way for the Cardinals was DiFonzo, who scored her second straight hat trick, accounting for all three Cardinal goals in the win. She was also the Cardinal's most efficient shooter on the day, taking a team high five shots, putting all five on net. The other three Cardinal shots came from  Morgan Montani, Talynn DeBartolo, and Phepha Seopa to round out the offense. Olivia Kqira got the start in net and would make four saves on eight shots faced on the afternoon.

The Wheeling University Women's Soccer team returns to action on Wednesday, October 25th, when they hit the road to face Frostburg State at 5 PM.