Wheeling, W. Va. – After the Wheeling University Women's Soccer team defeated Shawnee State in their first ever meeting in the opener, the Wheeling University Men's soccer team (4-7, 2-6) looked to keep the Good vibes rolling in the night cap. The Cardinals were able to take down the Bears 2-0 to earn three more points in the Mountain East Conference (MEC) standings. After sitting tied 0-0 At the half, it was two late goals that lifted the Cardinals to their second MEC win of the season.
Despite not getting on the scoreboard over the first 45 minutes of play, Wheeling would control time of possession out shooting Shawnee State 10-1 in the first half. It took the Cardinals just 2:46 To take their first shot of the game as Luis Yanes got the opportunity off of a corner kick. However, Shawnee State's Eduardo Pena was there to make the save. Keeping the Cardinals off the board early. Wheeling's offense would spread the ball around throughout the first half, with seven different Cardinals taking a shot during that time. The Cardinals were looking to capitalize off their set pieces, with Reilly Nickles coming up from the midfield to take two of those shots, while Jon-Michael Gordon added Two of his own including one on net. The final Cardinal shot would come in the 44th minute, when Javier Ramos sent one wide of the net. The teams went into halftime with the score sitting even at 0-0 and both looking to break through.
For the Cardinals, they were looking to be more efficient in the second half after putting just four of their 10 first half shots on net. After making their halftime adjustments, Wheeling would come out sharp as sophomore Elie Simon sent a shot barreling towards the upper right corner of the net. However, Pena was there once again for the Bears to make the save And keep the game scoreless. Two of the first four Cardinal shots in the half were put on net, with both coming from Simon, before Wheeling broke through on the scoreboard in the 65th minute. Andoni Pipaon would set up for a free kick following a Shawnee State foul, and after an initial save from Pena, Yanes would get the rebound and found the bottom right corner of the net. It gave Wheeling the 1-0 lead and gave the offense the confidence they needed for the rest of the night.
The Cardinals had found their groove, with five of their final six shots landing on net as they continued to pressure the Bears throughout the night. In the 74th minute, Shawnee State would put together their first offensive push of the second half, sending two shots wide of net. It gave wheeling control of the ball once again and in the 76th minute the Cardinals would make their move. Enzo Boulaoued would bring the ball down the far sideline, and sent a cross to Simon who was waiting on the near post. The sophomore would send a shot across the net and hit the top right corner for his first goal of the night. It would be the goal that sealed the deal, giving Wheeling a 2-0 lead with 14 minutes to play. In the final minute, Boulaoued tried to score a goal of his own but a save from Pena would bring the game to its final score of 2-0.
Leading the effort for the Cardinals was Elie Simon, who scored his second goal of the season on his 20th birthday to lift the Cardinals to victory. He would lead the team with six total shots, five of those landing on net, to round out a big day on the offensive front. The other Cardinal goal would come courtesy of Luis Yanes, who put both the shots he took on net and scored the first goal of the day to get Wheeling's offense going. The final two Cardinals to make the score sheet were Andoni Pipaon and Enzo Boulaoued, who each finished with an assist in the effort. It was a light day of work for freshman Alberto Madail In net, who made the save on his only shot faced on the night.
The Wheeling University Men's Soccer team returns to action on Sunday, October 11, when they travel to Salem with kickoff at 2 PM.
