The Wheeling University Men's Soccer Team returned to Bishop Schmitt tonight as they welcomed one of division II's strongest outfits in the Davis and Elkins Senators.
The first half was slow to start, with the Cardinals concentrated on keeping shape whilst the Senators dominated the ball. Being on the front foot, Davis and Elkins inevitably found openings in the Cardinal defence. The Senators didnt manage to trouble Alberto Madail in the early goings however as Wheeling kept the game at 0-0 through the mid-way point of the half.
Davis & Elkins found themselves through on goal nearing the half hour mark, but Pablo Prieto came up huge with a last ditch tackle to thaw out the attack. Wheeling started to create some chances of their own on the counter attack, but were unable to find a final pass to break through. Despite this, the Cardinals couldn't quite control the ball movement of the Senators, and in the 39th minute, they broke the deadlock with a strike across the goal of Alberto Madail. The Senators had provided a gut punch to the Cardinals, who were forced to go into the half a goal down.
Davis & Elkins started the second half akin to the first, seeing the majority of possession. With a little over 10 minutes played in the second, Davis & Elkins found a few short passes in the box to find Hugo Fauli, who lifted it into the back of the net to make it two. The Cardinals had to reset, and quickly, if they were to find their ay back into the game. Unfortunately, Davis & Elkins started to show their pedigree as the game went on, and set up camp in the Wheeling half.
The 67th minute was where the Senators put the game to bed, with a strike from Francisco Lopez Kreik finding its way to the top right side netting. The scoreline was unflattering, despite the Cardinals strong efforts to keep the opponents at bay. Wheeling found more time on the ball as the game approached the final 10, with Elie Simon causing trouble down the flanks. Alonzo Martinez struck the target in the 76th minute, but the Senator keeper kept his cool. The game was back and forth, and in the 88th minute, Davide Massa won a free kick just outside the Davis & Elkins box. Catching the keeper off guard, he curled one into the bottom right corner to grab a goal back for Wheeling. In the end the goal wasn't enough, but the Cardinals didn't give out as the game finished 3-0.
The Wheeling University Men's Soccer Team return to action on Sunday, October 18th, as they travel to Frostburg.
