Wheeling, W. Va. - After postponing their game against #5 Seton Hill Tuesday, March 17th due to weather, the Wheeling Men's Lacrosse team (3-2, 2-1) had to push back their home opener. They hosted Thomas More University and were able to get another win under their belt before taking on #5 Seton Hill. The Cardinals dominated offensively with keeping a lead the whole game and going 58% in faceoffs.
Thomas More got the day started with winning the first faceoff and getting the first goal of the game; but that didn't stop Wheeling. Mason Malec was able to win all of the next five faceoffs to resort in five goals for the Cardinals, within three minutes. Josh Wesneski was able to get two in the net in the first, along with Jack Rowe, Ayden Shepard, and Andrew Turner. Rowe got his second goal of the first quarter with six minutes left to make the score 6-1. Thomas More won the final faceoff of the quarter, but no one was able to get another goal before the quarter ended.
Malec got the second quarter started for the Cardinals with another faceoff win. Shepard and Rowe both took a shot, but the Saints goalkeeper made a save to get the ball down on their attacking end. About 20 seconds later, Gage Kimmel got the ball back for Wheeling, resulting in a goal by Zander Thomas. Malec won the faceoff once more, but it was back and forth for a couple minutes, until the Saints got their second goal of the game in a man-up opportunity. The Cardinals were quick to respond with a goal from Ben Tornatore. Thomas More got the final goal of the quarter, and they went into halftime 8-3 in favor of Wheeling.
Dominico Cataldo got the second half started for the Cardinals with winning his first faceoff of the day. Nate Caster was able to pick up the ball from the faceoff and got a fast break goal off of it. The Cardinals and Saints went back and forth for five minutes before Rowe was able to pick up the ball off a save from the Saints goalie and sneak it in to make it a 10-3 game. Thomas More was able to get three more goals during the quarter, while Wesneski got his third of the day. The Saints got the last goal of the quarter, and ended it with a penalty on Wheeling to give them an advantage in the fourth.
Thomas More was able to start the fourth quarter with the ball, and was able to score within the first 11 seconds to bring the score 11-7. The Cardinals and Saints battled for a couple minutes, but the Saints were able to maintain possession long enough to get another goal. Cataldo found his third faceoff win after that goal, and the ball was able to get down to their attacking end before calling a time out. Rowe was able to get his fourth and final goal of the day right out of the time out to maintain their lead. Thomas More got one last goal of the day with 10 minutes left. The Cardinals and Saints took turns with possession before it got into Wesneski's stick and in the back of the net for his fourth goal of the day. Wheeling was able to keep ahead all day and take a 13-9 victory.
Rowe and Wesneski led the attacking end with both having four goals, along with Rowe getting two assists. Riley Lincoln and Kimmel led the defensive with Lincoln picking up eight ground balls and Kimmel causing three turnovers. Malec and Cataldo dominated in faceoffs with Malec going 10-17 and Cataldo going 4-7. Goalkeeper Landen Martin dominated in the cage with only allowing nine goals and making 14 saves.
The Cardinals will be back on the field Monday, March 23rd when they host #5 Seton Hill.
