Bridgeport, W. Va. – The Wheeling University Men's Soccer team (1-3-1, 0-2-1) took a break from their Mountain East Conference (MEC) schedule on Wednesday afternoon when they traveled down to the Bridge Athletic Complex For the first of two non-conference meetings with Salem. The defense continued its strong play, and the offense scored two timely goals as the Cardinals picked up their first win of 2025. It came in a 4-0 shutout of the Tigers that would see the Cardinals put 60% of their shots on net.

In his first three games with the Cardinals, Diego Marquez has been a solid presence in net that continued throughout the day. Salem would take the first two shots of the game, with their first shot on net coming in the 11^th minute. Marquez was able to leap up and knock the ball down and got the ball back to the offense. He would be rewarded for his efforts 4 minutes later as the Cardinals set up for a corner kick. It would be Andoni Pipan taking the kick and he sent the ball to teammate Pablo Prieto. The sophomore would find the back of a net for his first goal of the season and the Cardinals took an early 1-0 lead. Off the following kickoff Wheeling continued to push with Jordan Taylor taking a shot just 45 seconds later that would miss the mark. There would be just two more shots over the next 20 minutes with both missing net as the two back lines did their job pushing the ball up to the midfield.

With five minutes to go before half, Wheeling still held on to their 1-0 lead and was looking to add on a big goal before the break. Wheeling was called for an offsides in the 42nd minute but the midfielders quickly turn the attack around and the Cardinals were pushing once again. Antonio Herra-Blackwood would take an outside pass and sent the shot on net, but it was saved by Salem's Noah Plummer. Wheeling would get one more shot off before the half, this time courtesy of Baptiste Hervaud, but it would miss the target going just wide of net. It would be the final shot taken for either team as they reach half time with Wheeling clinging to their 1-0 lead. The Cardinals outshot the Tigers 5-4 in the half, and the Wheeling back line only allowed one of those shots to go on net. On the other side, Wheeling would put three of the five shots they took on net and looked to continue their consistency as they headed into the second half.

The back and forth game that the teams were playing over the final 30 minutes of the first half continued in the second half. In the first 20 minutes just one shot was taken, by Salem, and it went wide of net. The Cardinals had not taken a shot since the game's 43rd minute, but that would change following a Salem foul. It came in the 63^rd minute and set the Cardinals up with a free kick opportunity. Otto Amesty would bring the ball up the field and connected with Herra-Blackwood, who after being denied on his first attempt of the day, would find the back of the net for his first goal of 2025. It increased Wheeling's lead to 2-0 as the Cardinals held their largest lead of the season thus far. Salem would try to respond just three minutes later, but Marquez was there to make the save and keep it a 2-0 game. As the game came down to its final 20 minutes, both teams would make their push and both defenses stood the test.

Marquez's third save of the day would come at the 75-minute mark, and Wheeling would come right back off the save. The Cardinals took two shots in the span of 30 seconds as Luis Bravo and Jordan Taylor would both put shots on net. However, both times Plummer was able to get in front of the ball and make the save to keep Wheeling at 2-0. Wheeling's back line kept Salem out of the offensive zone for the rest of the day and with two minutes left to play, the Cardinals mounted one more offensive push It would be Prieto bringing the ball up the field for the Cardinals as he tried to score his second goal of the day. Unfortunately, Plummer had one final save left in him to deny the opportunity. And Wheeling had their first win of 2025 with the 2-0 shutout victory. The Cardinals would outshoot Salem 10-7 In the game while putting two more shots on net than the Tigers.

Pablo Prieto and Antonio Herra-Blackwood combined to leave the Cardinals offensive effort. Both would take two shots in the game, putting both on net, and both would also score goals in the win. Diego Marquez would pick up his first career when and first career shutout in net, finishing with four saves on the night. Luis Bravo would add a shot on net, and Andoni Pipoan, Elie Simon, and Baptiste Hervaud would each add shots to round out the day.

The Wheeling University Men's Soccer team returns to action on Sunday, September 21^st When they hit the road to face West Virginia Wesleyan with kickoff at 1 PM.