Wheeling, W. Va. – The Wheeling University Women's Soccer team (2-5-4, 1-3-4) continued their stretch of Mountain East Conference (MEC) South Division Play as they welcomed in the University of Charleston in the second half of Sundays. Soccer doubleheader. Each team got on the board in the first 10 minutes of play before the defenses stepped up and the game finished in a 1-1 tie. It was the Cardinals fourth tie of the season As they earned their seventh conference point of the year.
The University of Charleston would go on the attack early, taking the games first three shots. It would be the third of those three shots that found the back of the net as Sydney Crowe sent the first shot off the woodwork, took the rebound and shot it to the opposite end of the net. Charleston would take a 1-0 lead, but it wouldn't be long before the Cardinals had their answer. After a Cardinal, free kick was thwarted by the Golden Eagles, Charleston would try to push the ball back up the field. A nice move by graduate student Maura Alevato forced the Golden Eagle defender to lose possession and Alevato went on the attack. She would take the ball and made her way to the middle of the field, moving around several Golden Eagle defenders. She would send the ball into the top right corner of the net for her first goal of the season as the Cardinals tied the game at 1-1. Alevato has played all over the field for the Cardinals this year And took advantage of the early opportunity.
Charleston would push the ball back up the field in the 15th minute and would try to make it three goals in the span of 15 minutes but they were denied by Deetya Satyal. Coming off a career effort on Wednesday, Satyal kept the momentum going as she made her first save of the day to keep it a 1-1 score. Just seven minutes later, Wheeling would make their push for the lead with Graceylyn Hanna bringing the ball up the field. Charleston's Ines Degil Esposti would make the save as the two teams continued to go shot for shot with each other throughout the half. Charleston would have a slight shot advantage over the Cardinals, taking eight to Wheeling's six, while getting four shots on goal compared to three for the Cardinals. Satyal would save three of those four shots, With two of those coming in the final 3 minutes of play, and Wheeling would head into the locker room with the score still sitting tied at 1-1.
Wheeling's six first half shots we're more than they took in three of the last four games as they looked to continue that aggression in the second half. Charleston would come out hot again, sending two shots in the first minute with Satyal making the save on the second one to keep it tied at 1-1. The golden eagles would end up taking the first five shots of the half , with only one of those going on net before the Cardinals made their first push of the second half. It would come off the foot of Talia Salvador and landed in the arms of the Golden Eagles keeper. It was the first of back to back shots on net for the Cardinals with Hanna putting a shot on net that was saved once again to keep the game tied at 1-1. The next Charleston attack would come in the 71st minute as Alison Rotthman sent a shot on net that Satyal would once again save.
The shot differential would swing more in Charleston's favor over the final 45 minutes. The Golden Eagles outshot Wheeling 12-9 over the final 45 minutes, but this time only two of those 12 shots would land on net. Satyal would make the Save both times, And the Cardinals are match their effort with two shots on that of their own. With just under 2 minutes to go, a yellow card for Charleston would set Wheeling up with a chance to attack to end the game. The Cardinals would take three shots in that final minute span, beginning with A shot from Rosie Caley went wide of the net. As the Cardinals got the ball back, there was a lot of traffic in front of the net and the ball once again ended up on Caley's foot. She took her shot, but CharlestonDl's Esposti would throw herself to the right and get in front of all for the final save of the day. The clock tick to zero. The school remained tied at 1-1. The Cardinals got their fourth draw of the season.
Leading the way to the Cardinals was Maira Alevato, who scored her first goal of the season in the effort. It came on her only shot taken during the day As she helped, the Cardinals earn a crucial conference point in the standings.Graceylyn Hanna would be the Cardinals Top shot taker of the day, finishing with three shots and putting all three of those on net, while Talia Salvador added the final shot on net for the team on the day. Deetya Satyal would get her second straight start in net, and made five saves on six shots faced to lead the way.
The Wheeling University Women's Soccer team returns to action on Wednesday, October 15th, when they host West Virginia Wesleyan with kickoff at 4 PM
