Wheeling, W. Va. - After battling over the last two and a half months, it all comes down to the final game of the season for the Wheeling University Women's Soccer team (3-10-4, 1-8-4). They welcome in their Mountain East Conference (MEC) rivals West Liberty in the annual "The Battle for Wheeling" on Wednesday afternoon with kick-off at 4 PM. If the Cardinals are able to beat the Hilltoppers for the second time this season, they will officially clinch their spot in the 2025 MEC Women's Soccer Tournament, making their second straight tournament appearance for the first time in program history.
The Cardinals are coming off a strong defensive battle with Point Park that saw them out shoot the Pioneers 9-7 on the night. Both back lines played strong throughout the first half, allowing a combined seven shots between the two teams, with only three of those shots landing on net. The Cardinals made a push late in the first half, taking two shots in the 37th minute, but headed into the half with the score still sitting tied at 0-0. They continued that aggression into the second half getting off the first three shots and putting one of those shots on net. However, it was the Pioneers who found the back of the net in the 80th minute and they took a 1-0 lead. Wheeling was not able to get a shot off for the rest of the game, and in the end they would fall by that 1-0 final score.
Akyla Walcott would make her second straight start in net for the Cardinals since returning from injury, and had one of her best showings of the season. Walcott was able to make four saves on five shots faced, finishing with a .800 save percentage. She faced two shots on net in the first half, including one in the first three minutes of the game, before facing three more shots in the second half. The effort helped raise Walcott's season save percentage to .714 and it was the third time this season that she has had an .800 or better save percentage in a game. She did not play the last time the Cardinals battled West Liberty, but will look to shut down the Hilltoppers offense as the Wheeling defense tries to secure their spot in the MEC Tournament.
Helping to lead the Cardinal's back line throughout the season in sophomore Lily Hanna, who moved back into the position after being one of the team's leading scorers last season. Hanna has helped orchestrate a defense that has held opponents to just a .456 shot on goal percentage and sits tied for sixth in the conference with an average of 1.56 goals allowed per game. On the offensive side, it has been her sister Graceylyn Hanna leading the charge, leading the Cardinals in shots against Point Park. She would take three shots, putting two of those on goal. She accounted for both of the Cardinal's scoring chances on the day and will look to get them on the board in a key conference match-up Wednesday.
As they head into this final game of the regular season, there are a couple different scenarios that will allow them to clinch the #4 seed in the MEC North for the MEC Women's Soccer tournament. The most direct path would be a Cardinal win or a Cardinal tie, which would give them sole possession of fourth place in the MEC North. However, Wheeling can also clinch the playoff berth if they lose by one goal on the afternoon. The Cardinals defeated West Liberty 1-0 earlier in the season and, if they were to fall 1-0 to West Liberty, that would tie the goal differential, moving to the third tie breaking scenario. This scenario is record against common opponents and, with the Cardinals earning a tie over Fairmont State earlier in the season, it would give them the advantage. The only way that Wheeling does not clinch a playoff spot is if they fall to West Liberty by two goals or more. The Cardinals will look to get it done the easy way as they look for their second straight tournament berth.
The Match-up
The Cardinals and Hilltoppers are meeting for the 27th time in program history, with West Liberty leading the all-time series at 16-8-2. Wheeling has played better at home in the series, going 5-8 compared to a 3-8-2 record on the road, but have gone just 1-2 in the last three games at Bishop Schmitt Field. The Cardinals are averaging 1.08 goals per game in the series, and have scored just one goal against the Hilltoppers in each of the last four meetings between the two teams.
Their first meeting of the season came back on September 17th, when the Cardinals squeezed past the Hilltoppers in a 1-0 game. The deciding goal would come in the final minute of play when Gabby Bortolussi sent a free kick into the top right corner of the net for the game-winning score. Rosie Caley would be the Cardinal's most efficient shooter on the day, putting all four of her shots on net, while Sam Faulkner made the start in net and came away with four saves to round out the shutout.
The Details
Kick-off for Wednesday afternoon's game is scheduled for 4 PM inside Bishop Schmitt Field. You can watch the action live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.
