Sparks, MD. – On Saturday, the Wheeling University Men's Lacrosse team (1-0, 0-0) ventured down to the USA Lacrosse facility in Sparks, Maryland to open the 2024 season. After falling behind early, the Cardinals rallies back, scoring 12 goals over the final three quarters as they defeated Post 15-11. It was the first season-opening win for the Cardinals since the 2018 season as they had six different players finish with multiple goals on the day.

Things didn't start out the way the Cardinals wanted as Post got on the board at the 9:58 mark of the first quarter to take a 1-0 lead. The Cardinals had not gotten off a shot over the first seven minutes of the quarter, but they made their first shot count. Ty Taylor would find Jacob Knippel in front of the net, and he converted on his first goal of the season to tie the game at 1-1. A minute and a half later, the Cardinals would take their first lead of the afternoon after an Adam Zdanowicz caused turnover. The Cardinals would take the ball into the offensive end and Dakota Strong would find the net for the first time this season to give Wheeling a 2-1 lead. After Post tied the game at 2-2, Taylor would put the Cardinals back out in front with his first goal of the season at the 5:20 mark to make it a 3-2 Cardinal lead. However, Post scored the final three goals of the quarter and after one quarter it was a 5-3 Eagles lead.

Post would keep their scoring run going into the  second quarter, scoring their sixth goal of the day at the 13:14 mark to make it 6-3. The Cardinals needed a shot in the arm and would get it after a Post turnover at the 11:40 mark. Adam Smellie would pick up the groundball and moved it to Taylor in the offensive zone. Taylor dumped it to Brody Fawver, who found the back of the net to make it a 6-4 game. It would be the start of five straight Cardinal goals to end the half as they retook the lead. Taylor's big day passing the ball continued as he picked up assist number three at the 8:33 mark as he hooked up with Mike Andersson for his first goal of the season. Taylor would be the one to tie the game at the 4:26 mark with his second goal of the season, assisted by Knippel, and after a Post Faceoff penalty, Wheeling took the lead as Taylor assisted on his fourth goal of the day, finding Fawver to make it a 7-6 Wheeling lead.

Jack Rowe would get on the board for the first time this season with 2:12 to go in the half and the Cardinals would head into the locker room with an 8-6 lead. As the new half started, Post would make the necessary adjustments out of the locker room, scoring the first two goals of the new half to tie the game at 8-8. Looking to keep the lead on their side, the Cardinals took a series of shots with 9:30 to go in the quarter. The third shot, taken by  Brenner Chase, would find the back of the net and the Cardinals were up 9-8. However, 30 seconds later, Post was back on the board and the game was once again tied at 9-9. Wheeling was able to maintain the lead, scoring the final three goals of the quarter courtesy of Knippel and Andersson, who scored two more goals over the next five minutes and the Cardinals led 12-9 heading into the final quarter.

As the final quarter began, Wheeling's offense was out to seal the deal, taking the first three shots of the quarter. Strong would pick up his second goal of the game at the 13:45 mark on an assist from Chase and the Cardinals pushed their lead to 13-9. Four minutes later, Strong had the ball back in his stick, but this time found Chase for his second goal of the day to make it a 14-9 Wheeling lead  The final Cardinal goal came from Strong, who ended up setting his new single-game career high with three goals to put Wheeling up 15-9 with 3:25 to play. Post would come back, scoring the final two goals of the game, but it wasn't enough as Wheeling held on for the 15-11 win. It was a big start for Wheeling as the offense showed they can carry the team when needed.

 The Cardinals were led by a pair of trio goal scorers on the day with Mike Andersson and Dakota Strong each finishing with three goals. For Strong, the three goals was a career-high effort as he put three of his four shots on net, while Andersson was just as efficient with four of his five shots landing on net. The Cardinals would end the day with six players with more than one goal as Ty Taylor, Brenner Chase, Jacob Knippel, and Brody Fawver each added two goals on the day. The Cardinal's assist leader from 2023 was back at it to start 2024 as Ty Taylor led that category with five assists. On the defensive side, Austin Hall would make 12 saves on 23 shots faced while Jack Rowe led the defensive effort with two caused turnovers.

The Wheeling University Men's Lacrosse team returns to action on Sunday, February 11th when they play their home opener against Holy Family with the opening face-off at 1 PM.