Wheeling, W. Va. - "The Battle for Wheeling" returns for the 2023 season as Wheeling University and West Liberty University begin their annual rivalry across the 2023-2024 sports season. The first edition of the matchup kicks off on Sunday afternoon as the Wheeling University Women's Soccer team (2-4, 0-3) takes the trip up the hill to take on the Hilltoppers at 1 PM. Wheeling won the all-sport season series during the 2022-23 season and look to get off to a hot start in 2023-2024.

Last time out, the Cardinals kicked off a three-game road trip as they headed to South Euclid, Ohio to take on Notre Dame College. It was a defensive battle throughout, with neither team able to run away either way. Notre Dame College got on the board in the game's 18th minute, but three big saves by goalkeeper Olivia Kqira kept it there as the teams went into the locker room with Notre Dame College leading 1-0. The Falcons would add an insurance goal in the game's 79th minute before Wheeling got a goal of their own at the 84-minute mark to make it a one goal affair. The Cardinals nearly tied the game in the 88th minute when Mary DiFonzo sent a shot towards net, but it would be saved, sealing Notre Dame College's 2-1 victory.

The Cardinals offense has been looking for consistency throughout the season and have gotten that from Freshman Nyah Smith. In the team's first six games, Smith leads the Cardinals with four goals and eight points, while shooting at a team best .444 clip and a .778 clip on shots on net. After losing two of their top three scorers from the 2022 season, Smith has been a welcome addition to the offense and is getting more confident with her shot. She has taken at least two shots in three of the team's six games played this season and looks to continue to contribute to the Cardinal's offensive success. Sitting right behind her is junior Mary DiFonzo, who has three goals this season and is tied for the team lead with 26 shots. DiFonzo has had to drop back on defense recently due to injury but is still a big contributor to the team's offensive game.

However, the leader of the Cardinals over these first six games of the season has been their defense, which has limited opponents to three goals or fewer in five of their six games so far. It begins with goalkeeper Olivia Kqira, who made seven saves on nine shots against the Falcons, with four of those seven saves coming in the game's second half. Over her last three games, Kqira has been tested and has responded making 37 saves on 43 shots faced for a save percentage of .860. On the year, Kqira holds an .809 save percentage in six games, five starts, as she continues to lead the way. The Cardinals back line has also done their fair share, limiting other scoring opportunities and moving the ball back to the Cardinal's midfield.

The Cardinals are currently in a stretch of three straight road contests after opening the year with four of their first five games at home. After a hot start that saw the team go 2-1 in their non-conference slate, the Cardinals are still searching for their first Mountain East Conference (MEC) win of the season as they try to grab a top four spot in the MEC. Entering play on Sunday, the Cardinals sit one game back on West Liberty for that coveted fourth spot in the conference and a win would get the momentum back on their side down the stretch. The Cardinals have not had it easy, taking on the top three teams in the MEC North Division to start conference play, and they look to bounce back as they take on their rival.

The Matchup

The Cardinals and Hilltoppers will be meeting for the 22nd time in program history, with West Liberty leading the all-time series at 13-7-1. It will also be the 11th meeting between the two teams on top of the hill, and West Liberty has gotten the better of those matches as well, going 2-7-1 in 10 previous meetings. However, more recently, it has been the Cardinals that have led the way, winning the last three games, including two shutouts.

Their most recent meeting came on October 29th of last year when the Cardinals clinched their MEC North playoff spot with a 3-2 victory on the hilltop. Mary DiFonzo, Medina Doka, and former Cardinal Braedynn Porter accounted for the Cardinal goals as the offense outshot West Liberty 17-10. Former Cardinal Mikayla Yarwood would get the start in net and ended up saving five of the seven shots she faced on the afternoon.

The Details

Kick-off for Sunday's game is scheduled for 1 PM at the West Family Athletic Complex on the campus of West Liberty University. You can watch the game live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.