Charleston, W. Va. – The 2024 Mountain East Conference (MEC) Women's Soccer tournament kicked off Sunday with the four Quarterfinal matches kicking off. The Wheeling University Women's Soccer team made the trip down I-79 to Charleston, West Virginia, looking to play underdog as they battled the top seed from the MEC South in the University of Charleston. Unfortunately, the Cardinal's run would come to an end as they fell 7-0 to close out the 2024 season.

Wheeling knew they would need a fast start and, after Charleston put the first shot of the game off net, they would put together their first scoring opportunity. Theresa Markwei would bring the ball up field for the Cardinals, and sent a shot towards net that was saved by Charleston's Jordan Maynard. The Golden Eagles would show why they are one of the top offenses in the conference in the 6^th minute, scoring twice in less than a minute span, as they took a 2-0 advantage. Sam Faulkner would make her first save in the 10^th minute and the Cardinal defense put in work. The back line would force three off target shots over the next six minutes, but Golden Eagle goals in the 17^th and 21^st minutes would make it a 4-9 game with 69 minutes of play still remaining.

Faulkner would face nine shots on net during the first half, including four more in the next 24 minutes and did her part to stop the bleeding. Her biggest test came in the 34^th minute, when she made the save on a shot towards the bottom center of the net to keep it a 4-0 game. In the next minute, Charleston was attacking again, with Kim Smal trying to get under Faulkner's legs, but another save would keep the score where it is. Wheeling would get the ball back and Second Team All-MEC Forward Lily Hanna would bring the ball up the field. She took her shot and a save by Maynard kept it 4-0. That would be the score as the team's headed into the break and the Cardinals were looking to get something going. Wheeling was out shot 15-3 over the first 45 minutes of play, but was efficient putting two of those three shots on net.

With their backs against the wall, the Cardinals came out strong in the second half, taking the first two shots. The first came from Hanna, who sent the ball towards the middle of the net, but Maynard would make the save. After a Charleston Yellow Card in the 51^st minute, Mary DiFonzo would bring the ball up field. She tried to sale the shot over the keeper's head, but another save would keep the Cardinals off the board. Charleston would send the next two shots off net before the Cardinals pressed for their third offensive opportunity of the half. This time it was Kaitlyn Osorio who tried to hit the bottom right corner of the net, but the third save of the half would keep the Cardinals off the board.

Charleston would get back on the board in the 68th minute, courtesy of Lina Jamie, that made it a 5-0 game. The Cardinal's final offensive push would come in the 74^th minute after a Golden Eagles foul. Nyah Smith would try to find the bottom right corner of the net, but Maynard would make another save to keep it a 5-0 game. The Cardinals put all four of their shots in the half on net, but all four were saved. Charleston would add two more goals in the 82^nd and 84^th minutes and pushed the game to its eventual final score of 7-0. Faulkner would make her final save in the 86^th minute as she saved a shot from Juliette Lucas to end the game strong in net. The Cardinals run in the MEC Tournament comes to an end as they head to the off-season looking to build on their success.

Leading the way for the Cardinals was Sam Faulkner, who made her first career postseason start. She made seven saves on 14 shots on net, falling one save short of her season high that she set earlier this season. On offense, the Cardinals were led by freshman Lily Hanna, who finished with three shots, putting two of those on goal during the day. Four other Cardinals would put shots on net on the night with Mary DiFonzo, Theresa Markwei, Kaitlyn Osorio, and Nyah Smith each putting shots on net. The offense was efficient throughout the night, putting six of their seven shots on net throughout the night.

The Wheeling University Women's Soccer team now heads into the off-season as they prepare to build on their success in 2025.