Wheeling, W. Va. – After having four of their first five games at home to start the season, the Wheeling University Women's Soccer team (2-4, 0-3) hit the road for the start of a three-game road trip on Wednesday as they traveled to South Euclid, Ohio. After falling behind early, the Cardinals scored a late goal to get within one goal of Notre Dame College, but it wasn't enough as they dropped the game 2-1. It moves their conference record to 0-3 to start the season, but the offense is getting healthier and creating more opportunities.

As the first half kicked off, it was a familiar face on defense leading the Cardinals early as Goalkeeper Olivia Kqira picked up right where she left off this past weekend. She made three big saves in the game's first five minutes and kept it even at 0-0. After a Notre Dame College Yellow Card, the Cardinals got their first offensive opportunity as Medina Doka, who returned from injury, sent a shot on net that was saved by Notre Dame College's Jordan Pasquala. After passing the ball back and forth over the next ten minutes, it was Notre Dame College that would break the stalemate. The Falcon's Olivia Motolese, who had just subbed into the game, took a shot and put it in the back of the net to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. 

As the first half went on, the Cardinals defense held up, allowing just one Falcon shot for the remainder of the half. The back line was able to effectively clear the ball to the offense, setting up several scoring opportunities. The Cardinals would take four of the final five shots of the half, with three different players taking those shots. Mary DiFonzo had two of those shots while Annette Haidle and Olivia Hoban each adding a shot on the day. However, none of them were able to find the back of the net and the two teams headed into the locker room with the score sitting at 1-0 in favor of Notre Dame College. The Cardinals were looking to keep the momentum in their favor as they headed into the second half.

However, it was the Falcons that started the second half off strong, taking the first five shots of the new half. A foul in the box set up a Penalty Kick opportunity for Notre Dame College and Kqira made one of her biggest saves of the night as she kept it a 1-0 affair. The offense ruled the second half, with both teams increasing their shot total from the first half. Notre Dame College outshot the Cardinals 13-9 over the final 45 minutes of play and in the 79th minute they got back on the board in the 79th minute to make it 2-0. The Cardinals responded in the 84th minute as Bailey Walker hit a pass to freshman Nyah Smith. Smith made her move around the defense and netted her fourth goal of the year to make it a 2-1 game. That would end up being the final score as Wheeling dropped to 0-3 in MEC play.

Mary DiFonzo led the offense taking four shots, putting four on goal, while Talynn DeBartolo added four shots of her own. Nyah Smith scored the lone goal for the Cardinals as she moves into sole possession of the team lead in goals with her fourth goal of the season. Olivia Kqira had another big day in net, making seven saves on nine shots faced and has yet to allow more than three goals in a game this season. The Cardinals now fall to 0-3 in conference play to start the year as they continue this three game road trip.

The Wheeling University Women's soccer team returns to action on Sunday, September 24th, when they take on West Liberty at 1 PM.