Wheeling, W. Va. - The Wheeling University Women's Soccer team (2-3, 0-2) jumped right into Mountain East Conference (MEC) play this week, taking on the top two teams from last year's MEC North Division standings in their first two games. They continued that stretch on Sunday, when they hosted the defending MEC North Division champions in Frostburg State. The Bobcats offense got the better of the Cardinals on the day, with Wheeling falling 3-1, but goalkeeper Olivia Kqira wrote her name in the record books setting the single game record with 18 saves.

Kqira passed a pair of former Cardinals in Jaci Wilson and Holly Kraus As she broke the record by two saves. Since transferring in during the preseason she has been a rock for the Cardinals in net, leading the way with an .816 Save percentage in her five games this season. After setting a season high with 12 saves last time out against Fairmont State, Kqira set a new personal best to break the record today as she helped keep the Cardinals close throughout the afternoon. A lot of her work came during the first 45 minutes of play as Frostburg State took 23 shots, putting 13 of those on net. Kqira allow just one of those shots past her, making 12 saves and entering halftime meeting just four to tie the record. She added six more saves in the second half, completing the feet to help her team stay within two goals of the Bobcats.

The first Frostburg State goal came just a minute into the contest when Toni Fiocco-Mizer snap the first shot of the game past Kqira to make it 1-0 Frostburg State. The Bobcats had their offense working in the early portions of the game putting seven shots on goal through the first 13 minutes of play. After allowing the first one to go in, Kqira made the save on the next six straight shots to keep it a 1-0 affair. The first Cardinal shot of the day came in the 14th minute when Tayler Wells set up for a free kick opportunity 30 yards out. She sent the ball sailing towards the net but unfortunately, it fell into the arms of Bobcat goalkeeper Ashley Biljer. Wells would have the only other shot on goal in the half of the Cardinals, also coming on a free kick opportunity, as willing took four shots over the first 45 minutes.

The second half began with another Bobcat goal in the 52nd minute of the game, with Madison Allen scoring her first goal to make it a 2-0 Bobcat lead. The Cardinals would find their way on the board 5 minutes later after their defense cleared the ball into the Frostburg offensive zone. A Bobcat defender took the ball off her chest and hit it right back towards Wheeling Forward Nyah Smith. Smith took the rebound and set a shot towards the upper right hand corner of the net. Bilger jump but was unable to get a hand on it as it sailed in the back of the net to cut the Frostburg State lead to 2-1. It was Smith's third goal of the season and got the Cardinals right back in it with just over 33 minutes left to play.

Frostburg State responded quickly, pushing their lead back to two on a goal in The 60th minute that made it a 3-1 Frostburg State lead. Kqira made three more saves following the Bobcat goal to tie the single game record, and in the 82nd minute Frostburg State setup for corner kick. Frostburg State's Jayme Spot took the kick and sent it towards the net and Kqira made the save to set the record. She would make one more save before the game was over, but Wheeling did not get off another shot over the final 10 minutes of play. Frostburg State would pick up the 3-1 win to close out the day and Wheeling dropped to 2-3 on the season and 0-2 through their first two MEC games.

The Cardinals got off five shots on the day, putting three on goal, and were led by Tayler Wells who took two of those shots and put both on net. It was a career high for Wells as she took advantage of her free kick opportunities on the night. Nyah Smith took one shot and converted it for the team's lone goal of the afternoon while Caryn Goins and Phepa Seopa each got off shots to end the effort. Wheeling drops to 2-3 on the season with the loss, but with many more conference games ahead the team looks to rebound as they continue their track towards the MEC Tournament.

The Wheeling University Women's Soccer team returns to action on Wednesday, September 20th, when they take on Notre Dame College with kick-off at 1 PM.