Wheeling, W. Va. - As the race for the Mountain East Conference (MEC) Tournament comes down to the wire, it looked as though the Wheeling Women's Soccer team (4-9-1, 3-7-1) were going to take a tough loss on Wednesday. However, in the 89^th minute, it would be the first Wheeling goal for Maira Alevato would get them a point they needed as they finished in a tie with Point Park 3-3. The win gave them a two-point lead over West Liberty for the #4 spot in the MEC North as the Cardinals look to hold their third place standing heading towards the MEC Tournament.

In the 84^th minute, the Cardinals found themselves trailing 3-2 and looked for a way to even the score. Senior Mary DiFonzo made the first push, taking two shots in the span of 30 seconds, but both of those shots would end up falling off net. Point Park would try to put the game out of reach on the next possession, but their shot would end up going wide right and the Cardinals were in the driver seat again. DiFonzo tried to make a push as the clock ticked down to the 89^th minute, but she was called for a foul. On the ensuing free kick, the Cardinals were able to get the ball back and onto the feet of Alevato. She would then make a move past the Point Park defense, and took her shot, finding the back of the net to tie the game at 3-3. With just 30 seconds left on the clock, the Cardinals were able to earn a big conference point and maintain their advantage over West Liberty.

Alevato's goal would be the only shot she took during the day, but she made it count to find the back of the net. After playing more of a defensive role earlier in the year, Alevato has been pushed to the front line over the last few games and has begun to make her mark on offense. The Cardinal's offensive leader in the game was freshman Lily Hanna, who finished with two goals on the day, picking up her first career multi-goal effort of the season. Graceylyn Hanna and Tayler Wells would each add two shots, while Nyah Smith and Talynn DeBartolo rounded out the offensive effort with a shot each. Sam Faulkner would get her second start in net, making eight saves on 11 shots to earn the tie for her team.

As the game started, the Cardinals would come out with the first shot courtesy of Graceylyn Hanna, but it was Point Park who scored the first goal in the 6^th minute. Jamie Spurrell would find the back of the net to give Point Park a 1-0 lead before the Cardinals responded six minutes later. DiFonzo was bringing the ball up the field when she sent a pass to Lily Hanna for a scoring opportunity. The freshman would make the most opportunity, getting the Cardinals on the board and tying the game at 1-1. Just five minutes later, the Cardinals would take their first lead of the day on a sister to sister connection. Graceylyn Hanna would bring the ball up the field and shot a crosser over to her sister Lily Hanna. Lily would convert the opportunity and the Cardinals took a 2-1 lead in the 17^th minute of the game.

Sam Faulkner would make the final two saves of the half and the Cardinals headed into the locker room with a 2-1 advantage. Wheeling's offense came out strong in the second half, taking the first two shots of the half, but both would end up off target. Faulkner would hold strong with another save in the 57^th minute, and she would save three straight shots. However, Point Park got on the board in the 74^th minute courtesy of Vanessa Vazquez and would add another goal five minutes later from Vazquez as they took the lead at 3-2. It would be the last second push that earned the Cardinals the tie and the big conference point.

The Wheeling University Women's Soccer team returns to action on Sunday, October 27^th, when they host Fairmont State with kick-off at 1 PM.