Frostburg, MD. - For the final time during the 2025 regular season, the Wheeling University Women's Soccer team (3-9-4, 1-7-4) hit the road. They traveled to Frostburg State for a Wednesday night match-up under the lights as they battled Mountain East Conference (MEC) North Division rival Frostburg State to kick-off the final week of the regular season. The Cardinals would end up falling in a 2-0 affair, and a West Liberty tie with Point Park earlier in the day kept the Cardinal's magic number to clinch a playoff spot at two.
In the first half, Frostburg State would push the ball up field early and often, getting off five of the first six shots spanning the first 32 minutes of the game. The teams would trade shots in the opening four minutes of the game, with Frostburg State's Mollie Rebuck sending a shot off net thirty seconds into the game. Just three minutes later, Graceylyn Hanna would get the ball up the field, but sent a shot off the right hand side of the net. Despite Frostburg State getting so many shot opportunities early on, the Cardinals were able to keep Frostburg State from putting a shot on net. They would take each of the next three shots spanning a 25 minute stretch, and each of those shots would end up falling off target.
Frostburg State's first shot on net would come in the 32nd minute when they set up for a second straight corner kick. Carly Gillette would take the corner kick and sent it towards the net where Elena Fernandez was waiting. Fernandez would send it to the back of the net and the Bobcats were staked to a 1-0 lead with 13 minutes remaining on the first half clock. Frostburg State would continue attacking the net, sending three more shots on net over the next four minutes, and goalkeeper Akyla Walcott would step up in a big way. She would save two of the three shots, and her back line defenders helped her on the third with a save to keep it a 1-0 game. Their final shot on goal would come in the 41st minute, and another save from Walcott sent the game into halftime with Frostburg State holding a 1-0 lead.
The Cardinals would be outshot 11-1 in the first half, but the defense would step up over the final 45 minutes of play. They went from allowing 11 shots in the first half to just four shots in the second half as they tried to battle back in the game. Wheeling would make a push early, sending two shots on goal over the first five minutes. The first came from Maira Alevato, who tried to get the ball through the center of the net in the 49th minute, but eas denied by Frostburg State's Mia Graff. Just one minute later, a Frostburg State foul would set up Caryn Goins with a shot opportunity. Goins would take the free kick and tried to send it under the crossbar, but Graff was able to jump up and make the save to keep it a 1-0 game.
In the 51st minute, Frostburg State would try to get their response as Cassidy Paige sent the ball towards net, but Walcott was able to keep it a 1-0 affair. After the early onslaught, both teams would settle in over the next twenty minutes and the Cardinals continued to trail 1-0. In the 84th minute, Frostburg State would get the insurance goal, with Morgan Mrizek finding Cassidy Paige for the second goal of the night. It gave Frostburg State a 2-0 lead, and they nearly made it 3-0 in the 86th minute when Mrizek tried to get Frostburg State on the board herself. Walcott would be there for the save and the Cardinals would end up falling by the final score of 2-0.
Leading the way for the Cardinals was Akyla Walcott, who finished the night with five saves on seven shots faced. It was Walcott's first start since October 5th, and she stood tall in the second half as she kept her team in the game. Wheeling would put two shots on goal on the day, with Caryn Goins and Maira Alevato each taking one shot and putting that shot on net. The final two Cardinal shots came from Graceylyn Hanna and Rosie Caley, who each finished with one shot on the day.
The Wheeling University Women's Soccer team returns to action on Sunday, November 2nd, when they host Point Park with kick-off at 4 PM.
