Wheeling, W. Va. – After a week that saw them go 2-0 in a pair of conference games, the Wheeling University Men's Soccer team (5-7, 3-6) has put themselves in position for a late season postseason push. On Monday, the Mountain East Conference (MEC) releases their weekly Player of the Week honors, and the Cardinals would sweep the weekly awards. Freshman midfielder Luis Yanes was named the MEC Offensive Player of the Week, while freshman goalkeeper Alberto Madail earned the MEC Defensive Player of the Week.
Yanes is taking home his first MEC Player of the Week award of his career after leading the Cardinal's offensive push. The freshman would finish the week scoring three goals between the two games, while putting four of the five shots he took on net. His biggest performance of the week came against Salem, when he finished with two goals, with those being the only two shots he took throughout the night. After the two teams were held scoreless through the first 90 minutes of play, Yanes would help Wheeling solidify the win, scoring the two middle goals that led the Caridnals to their 4-0 victory. In the first game of the week, Yanes would get the scoring started for Wheeling, as part of their 3-0 win over Shawnee State. The effort would move him to second on the team in goals this season with four as he continues to help push the offense forward through the postseason run.
Madail is winning the award for the second time this season, after a week that saw him pick up back-to-back shutouts in net. Between Shawnee State and Salem, the freshman would make five saves across the two wins, securing his second and third shutouts of the season. His biggest performance would also come against Salem, where he made four of his five saves to finish out his third shutout of the season. In the Wednesday match-up with the Bears, Madail would only have to make one save on the day, taking care of the only shot that came his way in the effort. The freshman currently ranks second in the MEC with 51 saves this season, and his .739 save percentage is good for fourth among MEC goalkeepers. He looks to continue to be an asset in net for the Cardinals as they try to make the postseason for the first time since the 2023 season.
With Madail and Yanes earning MEC Player of the Week honors, the Wheeling University Athletic Department has now had nine student-athletes earn Conference Player of the Week honors. Wheeling Men's Soccer has been responsible for three of those nine awards, with Madail taking his second of the year while Yanes joins the group. The last Cardinal to earn Player of the Week honors was Men's Swimmer Emanuele Lugo, who earned MEC Men's Swimmer of the Week back on September 28th.
The Wheeling University Men's Swimming team returns to action on Wednesday, October 14, when they host Davis & Elkins with kick-off at 7 PM.
