Wheeling, W. Va. – The Wheeling University Women's Soccer team (4-9, 3-7) welcomed in Glenville State on Sunday, in the second half of a Wheeling soccer doubleheader. The Cardinals struck early in the game, but it wouldn't be enough as the Cardinals fell to the Pioneers 3-1. Wheeling won the shot game, outshooting Glenville State 19-15, but they weren't able to find the back of the net after the first goal of the night.

After an injury, kept Olivia Kqira out of the game, Sam Faulkner would make her first start of the season and was tested early. Over the first five minutes, Glenville State would put two shots on net from Martins Roig and Noelia Garcia, and both times Faulkner dove in front of the ball to make the save. After the pair of failed attempts, the Cardinals would have their turn as they pushed the ball up field. After a pair of passes got the ball up over the 30-yard line, the ball found the right foot of Lily Hanna. Hanna made a pair of moves around the Glenville State defense and she found the back of the net to give Wheeling a 1-0 lead. A minute and a half later, it was Hanna who once again took a shot, but this time the shot was saved by Glenville State's Lucia Lopez. 

After the save Glenville State began pushing the ball up field and put together their first scoring opportunity in the 17th minute. Glenville State's Merel Smets sent a pass in front of the net and Garcia would complete the shot and tied the game at 1-1. It was the start of a flurry of offense for the Pioneers as they were right back at it in the 21st minute. This time, it was Aitana Viejo who passed to Sophia Caulkins, and the Pioneers took a 2-1 lead. Their final goal of the flurry came in the 24th minute as Glenville State set up shop in the middle of the field. Valentina Quiroz took a shot from the 25-yard line and she floated it into the back of the net to make it a 3-1 game. Wheeling would get four more shots off in the half, putting just one on goal and the teams went into the locker room with the score sitting at 3-1.

After meeting at halftime, the Cardinals would look to be more aggressive in the second half and did just that. They made an aggressive push early, with Kaitlyn Osorio taking a shot just 30 seconds into the half, but it was saved by Lopez. The Cardinals would continue to work in the 53rd minute, with another Hanna shot, but another save kept it a 3-1 game. The Cardinals would outshoot the Pioneers 9-5 in the half, but only two of the Cardinal shots would find the net. The Cardinals had several scoring opportunities throughout the half, putting five of those nine shots on net. In the end, they were unable to find the back of the net, and the Cardinal defense held strong as the Cardinals fell by the final score of 3-1.

Leading the way for the Cardinals was Hanna, who scored the team's lone goal of the day. She finished with a team best six shots, putting five of those on net as she continues to make a strong push during her freshman season. Her sister Graceylyn Hanna would finish with three shots, one on goal, while Kaitlyn Osorio and Mary DiFonzo each put shots on net. Sam Faulkner would finish with six saves on nine shots on the day, including two saves in the second half to keep the deficit where it was. The Cardinals now fall to 3-7 in MEC play with the loss and will chase down an MEC Playoff spot as they return to MEC North play.

The Wheeling University Women's Soccer team returns to action on Wednesday, October 23rd, when they face Point Park at 3 PM.