Wheeling, W. Va. - The crisp fall air blew into Bishop Schmitt Field on Wednesday evening as the Wheeling University Men's Soccer team (1-12-1, 0-11-1) began a stretch of three of four games at home. The Cardinals were able to get on the board early, but it wasn't enough to hold up as the Cardinals fell to Davis & Elkins 2-1. It was the second straight game in which the Cardinals scored on a free kick in the opening 15 minutes of the game, but the defense was unable to hold up as they dropped the contest.

Right from the get-go, Davis & Elkins would dominate the time of possession, taking the first three shots of the game. Their first attack came in the third minute as the Senator's Kendall Pellot pushed towards the goal. Diego Marquez got the start in net and would deny the opportunity to keep it 0-0 in the early going. He would face three shots over the first 12 minutes of play and made the save each time to keep the game scoreless. His offense would reward him in the 13^th minute. Andoni Pipaion would set up for a free kick and sent the ball to the far side of the field, where Pablo Prieto was waiting. Prieto would send it towards the middle of the net off the head of Alex Yesufu and into the back of the net. It was Yesufu's second goal of the season and gave the Cardinals an early 1-0 lead.

It was the second game in a row where the Cardinals took the lead early, and their defense would continue to be tested throughout the half. Wheeling would be outshot 8-2 in the half, with five of those eight shots from the Senators landing on net. Marquez would make a save in the 23^rd minute, but Davis & Elkins would break through in the 25^th minute as Francisco Lopez Kreik brought the ball up field. He sent it to teammate Hugo Tejon, who found the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1. Marquez would make one more save at the 33^rd minute, and the Cardinals mounted one more attack before the half.  After a foul on Davis & Elkins in the 38^th minute, The Cardinals would set up an attack and got the ball to Elie Simon who pushed up the field. He would send the ball towards the top of the net. But Davis & Elkins's Charlie Phillips jumped up to make the save.

The teams would head into the locker room with the score sitting even at 1-1, and the Cardinals looking for more offensive opportunities. The Cardinal defense would be looking to hold Davis & Elkins off the board and would face two shots to start the half. It was the second of those that would find the net as the Senator's Chinedu Ikem worked his way around the defense and sent the ball into the top corner of the net. It gave Davis & Elkins a 2-1 lead and Marquez would continue to have his work cut out for him in net. He made saves in both the 52^nd and 57^th minutes, doing his part to keep his team in the game. The ball would stay on the Senators side through the first 15 minutes of the new quarter, but Wheeling would try and tie the game as the 64^th minute approached.

It would once again be Simon bringing it up the field and he was able to send a shot right between the woodwork. However, Phillips was there for the save and the Cardinals remained down by a goal. After allowing a flurry of shots over the first 15 minutes, the Cardinal defense stiffened, allowing just one shot the rest of the way. They also forced several bad takes for the Senators, only allowing three of their six shots to be on target. Meanwhile, the Cardinals attack in the 64^th minute would be their lone shot of the half as they fell by the final score of 2-1. The Cardinals were efficient on the night, putting all three shots they took on target as they continue their final season push.

Leading the way for the Cardinals was Alex Yesufu, who scored the Cardinal's lone goal in the game, putting his only shot of the day in the back of the net. He is now tied for the team lead with two goals this season, and set a new career-high in the effort. Andoni Pipaon and Pablo Prieto each picked up assists in the game, adding points to their season total. Diego Marquez would start in net and ended up with seven saves on nine shots faced to lead the Cardinal's defensive effort.

The Wheeling University Men's Soccer team returns to action on Wednesday, October 29^th, when they travel to Frostburg State with kick-off at 5 PM.