Buckhannon, W. Va. - On Sunday, the Wheeling Women's Lacrosse Team (3-3, 1-0) hit the road for their first Mountain East Conference (MEC) game since 2019, and left making a statement. The Cardinals return home Wednesday where they'll host Davis and Elkins with opening draw at 4 PM. They look to continue their run of success, with a win on Wednesday setting themselves up in prime position for a run at the 2025 MEC Tournament.
Last time out, the Cardinals were on the road at West Virginia Wesleyan where they dominated the whole game. For their first MEC appearance in five years, the Cardinals showed that they are not a team that can be walked over. With a final score of 26-4, the Cardinals had seven players score, with four of them having a hat tricks (3 goals) or better. The Cardinals did see some action on the defensive end that allowed seven Cardinals to create 24 total caused turnovers.
With a tough match up just four days prior, Trinity Rose was still able to dominate on both ends of the ball. Rose acquired 9 points (8 goals, 1 assist), 6 ground balls, and 6 caused turnovers. She now leads the Cardinals in goals (21) and continues to lead in total points (27), ground balls (25), and caused turnovers (24). Klara Domachowska led the Cardinals in points (10) during the game and is now only 5 total points away from Rose.
A Cardinal that made a name for herself in this game is Bre'ya Clopper. Clopper was a four-year track and field runner for the Cardinals before joining the lacrosse team. She has shown her athleticism and speed throughout the season, obtaining 5 ground balls and having 5 caused turnovers, but on Sunday it all came together for her. Clopper would have a season high of 7 caused turnovers in one game, while also finding the back of the net not once, but twice to give herself her first two goals of the season and of her career.
With the first MEC game under their belt, the Cardinals are fighting for one of the top four spots in the conference to qualify for the MEC Tournament for the first time since 2019. The 2025 tournament will look a little different with past tournaments, with the #3 seed already being held by Dominican University, the newest member of the MEC Women's Lacrosse field. That leaves three postseason spots among the other five MEC teams, with the Cardinals needing to best two of those five teams. The Cardinals already have a leg up on West Virginia Wesleyan with the win on Sunday night, and are looking to take another step forward Wednesday against Davis & Elkins, a win would put them in the driver's seat against both teams heading into the final month of regular season play.
The Matchup
The Cardinals and Senators are meeting for the second time in program history, with Wheeling leading the all-time series at 1-0. That win came on the road back during the 2019 season, and the team will be making its first trip to Bishop Schmitt Field on Wednesday. It was a high scoring day for both teams in their first meeting, with 19 combined goals being scored, as the Cardinals look to continue that high scoring effort five seasons later.
Their last meeting came on March 27th, 2019, in a game that Wheeling would win on the road 15-14. Former Cardinal Ally Coggins led the way, finishing with seven goals while putting all seven of the shots she took on net. Former Cardinal Taylor Booth, former Cardinal Hayley Holmquist, and former Cardinal Megan Mangia each scored two goals in the game, while former Cardinal Emma Stair made 11 saves on 25 shots faced.
The Details
The Cardinals had a successful road trip down to West Virginia Wesleyan, and now prepare themselves to host Davis and Elkins on Wednesday. They go into the game ready to continue to show the MEC they are not here to play around. First draw is at 4 PM and you can watch the game live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.
