Four Score in Women's Soccer Road Victory Over Cardinals

WHEELING, W. Va. – Four different players scored in Women's Soccer's 4-1 victory over Wheeling on the road Wednesday afternoon.
 
Neither team was able to gain much of a foothold in the early minutes, as the first shot wasn't registered until 13 and a half minutes in, when the Bobcats put home the opener. Off a throw-in down the right side, senior Madi Allen made a smart turn and lofted a cross into the box, which was misplayed by the Cardinal defense, allowing junior Jayme Sooy to slot into the roof of the net off her left foot for the lead.
 
Just under four minutes later, their lead was doubled after senior Mei Homman put a free kick on goal that was pushed away by keeper Sam Faulkner right into the path of senior Cat Smith, easily finishing to go up by two. WU tried to answer back a minute later, firing a deep shot on target, but right at senior Katie Sterne to make an easy catch. After nearly 10 minutes of chances becoming rare, Frostburg had back-to-back chances but couldn't convert either, as freshman Ellie Fiedler had a volley blocked before Homman put a shot wide.
 
Entering the final 10 of the half, the Bobcat bench provided their third score, as freshman Madison Hobson drove down the right wing and planted a cross onto the head of classmate Rayiah Davis, looping it over Faulkner and nestling into the back of the net. Davis had another shot just before the break, but could only volley wide to end the first up 3-0.
 
FSU began the second 45 quickly, as senior Carolyn DeSena had a cross-turned-shot saved by Faulkner and freshman Elena Fernandez put a header wide of goal within the first five minutes. Still within the opening 10 of the half, freshman Amber Ignudo played a great ball through to junior Carly Gillette to power past Faulkner for Frostburg's fourth of the day.
 
Soon after, Ignudo was just unable to rise high enough to put a header on goal, while Gillette shot again from distance, as Faulkner nearly parried the ball right into the path of junior Hannah Clagett, but was able to fall on it just in time. A few minutes later, Sterne made her second save of the day, easily catching a Mary DiFonzo drive from distance. Wheeling was able to break through at the 63-minute mark, as DiFonzo surged through the FSU backline, getting to the edge of the 18 before curling the ball up and over freshman Kayla Doty for a 4-1 score.
 
After a WU shot went high over the bar, freshman Ainsley Wilson launched a curled ball into the box that was well seen by Faulkner to make the catch in front of her goal line. 10 minutes went by before the Cardinals saw back-to-back chances turned away, the first effort blocked down by Frostburg's defense and the second off the foot of DiFonzo well-saved by Doty, tipping the drive away as it was destined for the top corner.
 
Wheeling thought they had gotten another goal back with six minutes to go, as DiFonzo laid a free kick right into the path of Lilly Hanna, as her blast had Doty beaten but cannoned back off the crossbar and out. Two Bobcat efforts went wide of the mark in the final five, then as time was about to expire, Doty prevented a cross from reaching a WU player late on, preserving the 4-1 win.
 
Frostburg held a 15-10 advantage in shots, with eight on goal to the hosts' five.
 
With the win, the Bobcats improve to 12-2-2 on the year, while Wheeling falls to 4-11-1. FSU returns home to face West Liberty on Saturday, November 2, where it will be Senior Day in Bobcat Stadium. Information and updates will be posted to frostbugsports.com.