Wheeling, W. Va. - The final week of Mountain East Conference (MEC) play kicked off on Wednesday evening when the Wheeling University Men's Soccer team (1-13-1, 0-12-1) traveled to Frostburg, Maryland. Frostburg State would get two early goals and, despite a strong defensive stand in the second half, the Cardinals would fall 2-0, dropping their 12th conference game of the season. It was a back and forth battle throughout the night, with each team taking 11 shots and putting five on net, but the difference would be the two early balls that found the back of the net.
The Cardinals would be the first team to go on the attack, taking their first shot just three minutes into the contest. Freshman Elie Simon would bring the ball up the field and tried to get the ball through the middle of the net. However, Frostburg State's Jan Foret was able to make the save, but the Cardinal's push would continue. After a shot that went off net, Pablo Prieto would come back in the 13th minute coming off a Frostburg State foul. He would take the free kick and send it towards net, Foret was there to make the save and the game remained tied at 0-0 as the 15th minute ticked by. After the Cardinals controled the time of possession over the first 15 minutes, Frostburg State would take their first shot in the 18th minute.
It came off a Wheeling foul and Andrew Denard would step up to take the free kick opportunity. He would send it to teammate Mason Salvadge, who sent the ball into the back of the net to give Frostburg State a 1-0 lead. The Cardinal back line would force the next three Bobcat shots off net, and in the 33rd minute the Cardinals would try to tie the game. Jon-Michael Gordon would make his move, and took a shot towards the bottom left corner of the net. Foret would once again make the save and just 10 minutes late Frostburg State would double their lead on a goal from Danny Medina that made it a 2-0 game. Baptiste Hervaud would lead the Cardinal's final charge of the half, taking a corner kick and sending it towards the corner of the net. Foret would make his fourth save of the half, and an off-target shot by Hervaud would end the half with the score sitting at 2-0.
Wheeling held the shot advantage throughout the half, outshooting the Bobcats 6-5 over the first 45 minutes, while putting four shots on net compared to two for the Bobcats. As they came out for the second half, Frostburg State tried to get a quick goal, but Diego Marquez was there for his first save of the day. The Bobcats would take the first four shots of the half, but only the first went on net and the game remained a 2-0 game. The Cardinal's first shot would come in the 60th minute when Simon sent one off the bar. Marques would make his second save of the half in the 65th minute, stopping a corner kick opportunity that kept the Cardinals in the game.
Wheeling's first shot on goal of the second half came in the 71st minute after Wheeling got the ball thanks to a Frostburg State Yellow Card. Hervaud would get the ball on his foot and sent the ball into the middle of the net, but Foret was once again their to make the save. As the game was winding down, Frostburg State would get one more shot on net, taking their chance in the 85th minute. Inzaghi Harmon would send the ball towards the top left corner of the net and Marquez would leap up to make the save and keep it a 2-0 game. The Cardinal's last ditch effort came in the 88th minute when the Cardinals set up for a corner kick. Jon-Michael Gordon would take the pass and sent the ball towards the top of the net. However, it would sail over the crossbar and the Cardinals would fall by the final score of 2-0.
Leading the way for the Cardinals was Baptiste Hervaud, who finished with four shots, putting two of those on net. Hervaud set a new career-high in the effort in both shots and shots on goal, while playing 79 minutes on the field. The other two multi shot takers on the day were Elie Simon and Jon-Michael Gordon, who each finished with two shots and one on goal. Diego Marquez would finish with three saves on five shots faced, while Pablo Prieto added the final shot on goal for the day. With two more games remaining on the schedule, the Cardinals look to finish the season strong as they try to build momentum heading into the 2026 season.
The Wheeling University Men's Soccer team returns to action on Sunday, November 2nd, when they host Salem University with kick-off at 1 PM.
