Wheeling, W. Va. – On a rainy afternoon in Wheeling, West Virginia, the Wheeling University Women's Soccer team (0-7, 0-5) hosted Fairmont State in Mountain East Conference (MEC) action. The Cardinals kept things close over the first 64 minutes of play, but a Falcons onslaught closed out what was a 7-2 Wheeling loss. Lily Hanna and Graceylynn Hanna each got on the board as Wheeling battled throughout the day.
Fairmont State came out hot from the start, needing just 45 seconds to find the back of the net. Sam Yeun would work her way up the field after the kick-off and worked past the Wheeling defense and found the back of the net. The Cardinals would look for a quick response four minutes later, as Lily Hanna sent a quick shot on goal in her return to the lineup. Fairmont State's Olivia Johnston was there to make the save and it remained a 1-0 Falcon lead. After conceding the early goal, Wheeling's defense locked down with The Cardinal back line forcing two of their next three shots off net. Madison Reis-Elbara would save the other shot and as the 20 minute mark passed by, The score remained 1-0 in favor of Fairmont State. The Falcons kept the pressure on the Cardinals throughout the half, with Wheeling only getting the one shot off in the first 27 minutes before Fairmont State found the back of the net again.
It came in the 29th minute when Valentina Gianinetto scored her first of the night for the Falcons off of pass from Maria Day. With 10 minutes to go in the half Wheeling was looking for an answer and would turn back to Hanna to find it. Jeanery Diaz served Hanna the ball, And she worked her way up field to the 20-yard line. She would boot the ball over the keeper's head and into the top corner of the net for her first goal of the season. It got the Cardinals to within one goal of the Falcons and the momentum began to shift. Wheeling would pressure for the rest of the half, and despite not getting on the board went into the locker room feeling good with the score sitting at 2-1. As they broke from the locker room, Fairmont State went back on the attack controlling the possession for the first 20 minutes of the second half. Reis-Elbara would stand strong, making the save on the only two shots she faced during that time, and Wheeling would reward her in the 65th minute .
Maira Alevato drew a foul just outside the penalty box to set up a Wheeling free kick from five yards out. Sisters Lily Hanna and Graceylynn Hanna would line up on either side of the ball and we're able to fake out the Fairmont State defense. Lily Hanna did the initial run up, going past the ball to allow her sister Graceylynn to take the shot. Graceylynn sailed the ball over the goalkeeper's head and tied the game at 2-2. The teams went back and forth for the next four minutes before Fairmont state was on the board once again. This time it was Serenity Thomas working her way deep into the Cardinals defensive territory before getting past the goalkeeper to make it a 3-2 game. After that, the floodgates would open as Fairmont State scored on five unanswered goals to finish the game. The injury bug would affect Wheeling as both Reis-Elbara and Alba Lopez Guerrero would have to leave the game, and in the final five minutes Jaclyn Ketter would empty her bench. Rosie Caley would take the final Cardinal shot in the 88th minute, and Wheeling would fall by the final score of 7-2.
Leading the effort for the Cardinals were Lily Hanna and Graceylynn Hanna, who each scored one goal on the day. They would finish with identical stat lines, with both players, taking two shots and putting both on net in the effort. Jeanery Diaz would be the other Cardinal to make the score sheet, finishing with the lone assist on the afternoon. Madison Reis-Elbara would get the start in net and made three saves on seven shots faced on the afternoon. Alba Lopez Guerrero allowed one goal and Chantal Marie Klingenburg would round out the night with one save on three shots faced.
The Wheeling University Women's Soccer team returns to action on Wednesday, September 23, when they take on West Virginia State with kick-off at 6 PM.
