Throughout the first half, the Cardinal's back defensive line held strong, not allowing a Salem shot through the first 45 minutes of play. They kept the pressure off starting goalkeeper Olivia Kqira, who did not face a shot during that time. The Cardinal's offense took advantage, benefitting from the multiple scoring opportunities. Wheeling's first shot came in the first minute of the game as Mary DiFonzo sent a ball hurtling towards the net 39 seconds in that was saved by the Tiger's goalkeeper. The Cardinals just kept shooting through the early portion of the game, taking three shots over the first 10 minutes of play. The Cardinals were very efficient over the first 45 minutes, putting seven of their 10 shots on goal, and the efficiency finally paid off in the 41st minute.
 

Freshman Nyah Smith took a shot at the 41:26 mark of the first half that was saved by Salem's Sarah Cabrera. However, Smith would fight to get the ball back and on her second attempt on that same minute, made the move past the Tiger's goalkeeper for her second goal of the season. It gave Wheeling a 1-0 lead before heading to the halftime break and they upped it would open the flood gates as they entered the second half. They would end up keeping that momentum on their side as Talynn DeBartolo took the second half kick-off and converted it into a score. It took her just 13 seconds to make a move around the defense and take her shot that put Wheeling ahead 2-0. It was DeBartolo's first goal of the season, after she scored a career-best five goals a season ago.
 

The next Cardinal's scoring opportunity would come in the 59th minute after DiFonzo was fouled inside the box. It set up a Penalty Kick opportunity and DiFonzo would drain the shot to put the Cardinals ahead 3-0 with just over 30 minutes to play. Salem's lone score of the day would come in the 63rd minute as Chloe Owens struck one past Sam Faulkner to make it a 3-1 game. The final two Cardinals goals came in the final 20 minutes of play with DiFonzo and Olivia Hoban both getting on the score sheet. DiFonzo would score her second goal of the day in the 73rd minute, giving her her first multi-goal game of the season. Hoban would follow two minutes later in the 75th minute, scoring her first goal as a Cardinal. The Salem goal was their lone shot of the day, as Wheeling outshot them 11-1 over the final 45 minutes to pick up the 5-1 victory.
 

Mary DiFonzo led the Cardinal's offensive effort, taking four shots and putting all four on goal while scoring two goals. Olivia Hoban, Talynn DeBartolo, and Nyah Smith each got on the scoresheet. DeBartolo led the team with five shots taken, three on goal, while Rilei Levesque rounded out the day with four shots taken. Nine different Cardinals took shots on the day, with five of those players taking multiple shots. Faulkner and Kqira split the two halves in net, with neither getting a save in the game thanks to the work of their defense. Faulkner had the lone goal allowed in the second half to round out the day.
 

The Wheeling University Women's Soccer team returns to action on Wednesday, September 13th, when they begin MEC play against Fairmont State at 4 PM.