Bridgeport, W. Va. - On Wednesday, the Wheeling University Women's Soccer team (2-3-1, 1-5-0) took a break from Mountain East Conference (MEC) play when they traveled to Bridgeport, West Virginia. They took on Salem in non-conference action, and kept their point streak alive with three big points in a 3-1 win over the Tigers. After relying on their defense throughout the year, it was the offense that took a front seat on the day, taking 30 total shots and putting 15 of those shots on net.  

The offensive push would start right away as Vanessa Dagher took a shot just 30 seconds in that missed the target and, at the 20-minute mark she would add the team's second shot of the day. Wheeling's defense did not allow the Tigers onto their offensive side of the field for the first 28 minutes of play, and the Cardinal's first shot on net would come at the 26-minute mark courtesy of Ruby Gibbs. The first shot for the Tigers came in the 28th minute of the game on a shot that missed net, but the Cardinals went right back on the attack. Caley would have another shot go wide of net, but after an offside call on Salem Wheeling would be right back on the attack. 

Following the substitution, Lily Hanna brought the ball up the field and sent the ball down to a streaking Rosie Caley. Caley would take the ball and put it into the back of the net for the Cardinal's first goal of the day to make it a 1-0 affair. The Cardinals mounted several attacks over the final 10 minutes of play, but Salem's Janiya Brooks-Crews stepped up in a big way down the stretch. Caley would add one more shot, while Jeanery Diaz and Ana Santos each took two shots during the span. Santos sent both her shots on net in the final minute, but two saves from Brooks-Crews kept it a 1-0 game heading into the locker room. Wheeling allowed just the one shot in the half, with it falling off net, while putting six of their 11 shots on net through the first 45 minutes. 

 Things kept going the Cardinal's way to start the second half as they took the first six shots of the half, with two of those falling on net. After Brooks-Crews made a save on the first shot on net in the 48th minute, the Cardinals would mount another attack just a minute later. Wheeling would set up for back-to-back corner kicks, with Hanna taking both, and it was the second one that would find the back of the net. Ana Santos would take the kick and found the back of the net for her first career goal as the Cardinals extended their lead to 2-0. The shots just kept on coming for the Cardinals, but Brooks-Crews kept on making saves, knocking down each of the net two Cardinal shots on goal. However, it would be another corner kick opportunity that netted the Cardinal's third goal of the day.  

It would be the same recipe for success that worked before, with Hanna lining up the corner kick for the Cardinals. She sent the ball towards net and Santos once again connected with the pass and found the back of the net. It was her first career multi-goal game and gave the Cardinals a much needed insurance on the offensive side. As the half went on, the Cardinals went to their bench and made several substitutions to get their reserves some in-game action and they continued the push that the starter's began. The Cardinals did not allow a Salem shot until the final minute of play when a foul in the box set up a Penalty Kick opportunity. Salem's Adriana Medina stepped up for the try and put it in the back of the net to cut the Wheeling lead to 3-1. That would end up being the game's final score as Wheeling picked up their second win of the season. 

Leading the way for the Cardinals was Ana Santos, who put all four of the shots she took on net, while putting two of those shots into the back of the net. They were the first two goals of her collegiate career as she had a breakout day for the Cardinals. Wheeling's leading shot taker was Rosie Caley, who finished with eight shots, two on goal, while Jeanery Diaz made her season debut, taking four shots and putting three on net. Detya Satyal would get her first career start, not facing a shot in the first half, while Akyla Walcott allowed a goal on the only shot he faced on the day. 

The Wheeling University Women's Soccer team returns to action on Sunday, September 28th, when they host Fairmont State with kick-off at 2 PM.