Salem, W. Va. - With a Mountain East Conference (MEC) Tournament playoff spot locked up, the Wheeling University Women's Soccer team (5-11-1, 3-9-1) began their final tune-up week on Sunday in Salem, West Virginia. The Cardinals offense would tie a season-high, scoring six goals, as the Cardinals picked up a 6-0 win over Salem. Five different Cardinals scored the six goals on the day as they equaled their win total from a season ago as they head into their final conference game of the season.
It wouldn't take long for the Cardinals to get the offense going, needing just three minutes to get on the board. Mary DiFonzo would get things started, bringing the ball up the field and making her way around the defense to put the ball into the back of the net. It started a big shot parade for the Cardinals, as they fired off three more shots on net during the first 10 minutes. In the 11th minute, the Cardinals were back on the board as Olivia Hoban took a pass from Talynn DeBartolo and put the shot in the net as the Cardinals took a 2-0 lead. Wheeling controlled the time of possession throughout the first half, and outshot Salem 24-0 over those 45 minutes of play. Of those 24 shots, the Cardinals would put 15 of those on net, putting 62.5% of their shots on net.
In the 32nd minute, the Cardinals were back on the board, this time courtesy of freshman Lily Hanna. Maira Alevato would bring the ball up field and sent a pass to Hanna, who converted the goal and the Cardinals would take a 3-0 lead. A minute and a half later, it was Alevato who would get on the board, as the Cardinals took a 4-0 lead. Alevato would take a pass from Talynn DeBartolo, who picked up her second assist of the day as the teams headed into the locker room. Wheeling's defense did their part, not allowing a Salem shot throughout the half and keeping Goalkeeper Sam Faulkner with a clean sheet throughout the first half.
The Cardinals continued to take shot as the second half began, with Nyah Smith and Mary DiFonzo each taking shots on net. After getting two assists in the first half, DeBartolo would score her first goal of the night. She took a pass from Hoban and found the back of the net to extend the Cardinal lead to 5-0 in the 52nd minute. The Cardinals would try for another goal just three minutes later, and a foul by Salem's Armani Fulton set the Cardinals up with a Penalty Kick. DeBartolo would be the one to line up the shot, and she would convert in the back of the net to put Wheeling up 6-0. Throughout the second half, the Cardinals subbed in Deetya Satyal and she did her work to keep the shutout alive. Satyal would make saves in the 58th and 75th minute and the Cardinals would pick up the win with a 6-0 win.
It was a big day for Talynn DeBartolo, who finished with a team-high six points, finishing with two goals and two assists. She had both of her assists in the first half, and added two more goals in the second half to round out the day. Mary DiFonzo would finish with a team-high six shots, four on goal, while scoring a goal, while Lily Hanna had six shots, three on goal, finishing with one goal. Olivia Hoban and Maira Alevato each scored goals on the day while Alevato and Hoban each added assists on the day. Deetya Satyal led the defensive effort, finishing with two saves on two shots faced, over 30 minutes of play. Sam Faulkner and Olivia Kqira would each see time in net, but neither had to make a save on the day.
The Wheeling University Women's Soccer team returns to action on Wednesday, November 6th, when they hit the road to face West Liberty with kick-off at 7:30 PM.
