Wheeling, W. Va. – After battling through two non-conference games to start the year, the Wheeling University Women's Soccer team (1-2, 1-0) officially opened Mountain East Conference (MEC) play on Sunday afternoon. They welcomed in first time MEC opponent Point Park and were out to prove themselves after being ranked under the Pioneers in the preseason poll. Wheeling would do just that, as they took down the Pioneers 2-0 to get off to a 1-0 start to conference play.

The Cardinals would possess the ball for a majority of the first half and were biding their time for their opportunity. Mary DiFonzo and Graceylyn Hanna each took shots over the first 15 minutes of the game with both putting a shot on net, but Point Park's Maggie Pappas made a pair of saves to keep it scoreless. In the 22nd minute, Olivia Kqira would make her save of the day to keep it scoreless and send the Cardinals back on offense. Wheeling would set up a corner kick opportunity on their next possession and DiFonzo would try to score, but Pappas once again came through with a save to keep it scoreless. As the teams continued to go back and forth, the Cardinals would finally break through in the 40th minute of the game.

Graceylyn Hanna would draw a foul that gave Wheeling the ball and her sister Lily Hanna would take it from there. She cut her way through the Pioneer defense, taking the ball more than 50 yards into the offensive zone. She sized up her shot and sailed it into the back of the net to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead. It was Hanna's second goal of the season and gave the team their first lead of the day. The Cardinals put together one more offensive opportunity before halftime as Nyah Smith put a shot on net, but it was saved to end the half with a 1-0 Wheeling lead. The Cardinals outshot Point Park 7-5 in the first half and controlled the pace of play. As they headed into the second half, Wheeling would be looking for an insurance goals to add on.

They would get that insurance in the 72nd minute as the team created a flurry of offensive opportunities. In the possession before, a foul gave Wheeling the ball and Kaitlyn Osorio would take a shot that was saved by Pappas. The Cardinals would rebound and Graceylyn Hanna was set up on the near side of the field and sent a crosser across the field and Nyah Smith was on the run waiting. After being denied in the first half, Smith would convert this time, sending the kick to the bottom right corner of the net to give Wheeling a 2-0 lead. The Cardinals defense held up the rest of the way, not allowing another Pioneer shot over the final 18 minutes of the game. Lily Hanna would take the final Cardinal shot on the 82nd minute, but a save would end the game and the Cardinals went on to win 2-0.

Lily Hanna would lead the Cardinals on the day, taking two shots, putting both on goal, and scoring her second goal of the season. Nyah Smith added the second goal on the day, her first of the season, while putting all three of her shots on net. Mary DiFonzo would be the Cardinal's leading shot taker, taking five shots and putting three on net, while Graceylyn Hanna picked up her first career assist. Olivia Kqira and the Cardinal defense picked up their first shutout of the year, with Kqira making the save on the only shot she faced on the day.

The Wheeling University Women's Soccer team returns to action on Wednesday, September 18th, when they hit the road to face Fairmont State with kick-off at 7 PM.