Wheeling, W. Va. - After releasing the Men's Soccer preseason poll yesterday, the Mountain East Conference (MEC) continued their run on the soccer field Wednesday. They released the 2025 MEC Preseason Women's Soccer poll as voted on by the conference coaches. The Wheeling Women's Soccer team took the #5 spot in the MEC North Division, after making their second trip to the MEC Tournament in three seasons during the 2024 season.
The 2024 season saw the Cardinals battle a pair of non-conference opponents in Lincoln and Malone University, dropping both, before picking up their first MEC win in their opener against Point Park. However, Wheeling would drop their next three conference games and entered October sitting at 1-4. They would hit a turning point on October 6th when they took down Davis & Elkins 2-1 for their second conference win of the season. They would pick up another conference win and a tie before the season was out and finished 3-10-1 in MEC play as they grabbed the #4 spot in the MEC North Division. They would battle #1 seeded The University of Charleston but fell in the MEC Quarterfinal round to bring their season to an end.
As they enter the 2025 season, the Cardinals have a strong young core that will look to lead the way during the season. Taking charge will be sophomore midfielder Lily Hanna, who earned Second Team All-MEC honors, as well as a spot on the MEC's All-Freshman team. She would tie for the team lead with nine goals and two assists to total 11 points. She will be joined on the attack by junior Nyah Smith who, like Hanna, also earned a spot on the MEC All-Freshman team during her first season in 2023. On the defensive side the Cardinal goalkeeper group will be led by senior Sam Faulkner, who posted a 62.3 save percentage in eight games last season, splitting time in net. She will be joined by Deetya Satyal and Akyla Walcott in net as they look to limit the opposition.
The 2025 schedule is set up to once again challenge the Cardinals, with two preseason games back-to-back. They host Florida Southern College on September 6th and follow that with an immediate road trip to Lourdes University on September 7th. They open their MEC schedule on the road on September 13th at Point Park and will play each of their first two conference games away from Bishop Schmitt Field. The Cardinals will only play three home games in the month of September but will come home six times through the months of October and November. The Cardinals will look to take advantage of the late home stretch as they push for the MEC Tournament.
Taking the top spot in the MEC North Division was the reigning MEC North Champion Frostburg State, who finished with nine first place votes and 49 total points. The other two first-place votes went to Fairmont State, who finished second in the preseason poll with 42 points, followed by West Liberty who finished with 28 points. The defending MEC Champions the University of Charleston, who earned six first place votes and finished with 56 total points. Rounding out the MEC South poll was West Virginia State, who earned two first place votes and 49 total points, and Concord, who received three first place votes and 48 total points. The rest of the MEC Women's Soccer preseason poll is below:
MEC North
1. Frostburg State - (9) 49
2. Fairmont State - (2) 42
3. West Liberty - 28
4. Point Park - 23
5. Wheeling - 18
MEC South
1. Charleston - (6) 56
2. West Virginia State - (2) 49
3. Concord (3) 48
4. Glenville State - 30
5. West Virginia Wesleyan - 26
6. Davis & Elkins - 16
The Wheeling University Women's Soccer team kicks off the 2025 season on Saturday, September 6th, when they host Florida Southern College with kick-off at noon.
