WHEELING, W.Va. — The West Virginia Wesleyan (7-8-4, 5-7-4) men’s soccer team’s season came to an end in the Mountain East Conference Quarterfinal Round after falling to Wheeling (8-10-1, 7-8-1) on Tuesday (Nov. 1) night at Bishop Schmitt Field.
The Cardinals fired the first four shots of the match. MEC Freshman of the Year Diego Buenano had an opportunity in the third minute of play but was denied by WVWC ‘keeper Bryant Sheffield. Buenano racked up three shots within the first 20 minutes of play. Wheeling got on the scoreboard when Christian Rudd assisted Richard Afolayanka for a goal in the 29th minute.Javier De Ona Garcia managed to tally a shot on target in the 33rd minute of action. The home team led at the end of the first half.
WVWC applied offensive pressure in the second half when Adam Gribben managed to put a shot on target within the opening minutes of the half. Sheffield made a pair of saves in the 54th minute to keep the deficit to one goal. Gribben had another scoring chance late in the second half. The Bobcats could not find the equalizer and Wheeling advanced to the semifinal round.
Wesleyan had six shots in the second half and Gribben produced a pair of shots on goal. Wheeling outshot WVWC 16-8 and totaled three more shots on target. Sheffield stopped five shots from entering the net.
