Wheeling, W. Va. - On Monday, the Mountain East Conference (MEC) released their weekly MEC Players of the Week presented by the Healthplan. For the first time in 2023, a Cardinal was represented on the list as Wheeling University Football player Joao Lima was named MEC Special Teams Player of the Week. Lima was a perfect 3-3 on Field Goals on Saturday, as he helped lift his team to a 43-37 overtime victory over Fairmont State.
In the early portions of the game, things weren't looking good for the Cardinal as they found themselves down 23-3 in the game's second quarter. However, they rallied back, scoring 27 second half points to tie the game at 37-37 to send the game into overtime. It was the largest comeback effort for the team in program history and they looked to complete the comeback as the teams headed to overtime. The Cardinals got the first possession of the extra period and needed just two plays to get the ball into the endzone to take a 43-37 lead. The Cardinals defense came up big on the ensuing possession, getting the necessary stop and giving Wheeling their first MEC win of the 2023 season to improve to 2-1.
Lima was a big part of his team's success, accounting for 13 of his team's 43 points on the day, while going 3-3 in field goals and 4-5 in Point After Attempts. Lima would score the game's first three points for the Cardinas in the first quarter, kicking through a 42-yard field goal to make it a 6-3 game. He would kick through a short 2o yarder in the third quarter and added a 44-yard field goal late to make it a seven-point Cardinal advantage. That kick would turn out to be big as it was enough to keep the score tied when Fairmont State answered with a touchdown and sent the game to overtime. Lima has been more than reliable for the Cardinals this season, kicking through just over 85% of his field goal attempts this season, going 6-7. Of those six field goals, four have been from 40 yards or more, with his season long being a 48-yard field goal against Frostburg State.
Joao Lima is the first Wheeling University Student-Athlete to be recognized as a conference player of the week in 2023. Last season, 33 Cardinals earned MEC or Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC) player of the week honors and the department looks to once again exceed that number in 2023. For Lima, it I his first career All-Conference honor as he continues to be a leader on Special Teams.
Joao Lima and the Wheeling University Football team return to action on Saturday, September 23rd, when they take on Concord with kick-off at noon.
