Charleston, W.Va. – The Golden Eagles started Mountain East Conference play with a home victory over the Cardinals of Wheeling University.
 
The Basics:
Location: Welch Athletic Complex
Score: UC  3, WU 1
Records: UC 2-0-0 (1-0-0 MEC), Wheeling 0-1-0 (0-1-0 MEC)
 
How it Happened:
The home opener for the Golden Eagles was also the start to Mountain East Conference play and Charleston quickly found themselves trailing in the match when the Wheeling Cardinals jumped on the board in the first several minutes. The goal came by way of set piece when Sam Clark crossed a corner into the box and found the feet of TJ Cherry.  While the Golden Eagles trailed early on in the game, Coach Smee's team stayed collected and kept the ball in the attacking half of the field, only allowing the one lone shot for the Cardinals.
 
It was in the twenty sixth minute that the Golden Eagles found the equalizer. Ken Raghoebar scored his first goal of the season off a Joseph Gasper cross into the box. The game now knotted at 1-1, Charleston kept the pressure on the Cardinals, taking several shots but as time ran down, the teams headed to the locker room still tied.
 
Charleston came out in the second half and quickly put themselves ahead when Connor Hartwell found the foot of Alejandro Gomez who sent the ball into the back of the net and gave the Golden Eagles the 2-1 advantage.
 
Charleston continued to attack, keeping the Wheeling defense on their toes, rifling off nineteen shots compared to Wheeling's two in the half.
 
It was in the eighty third minute that the Golden Eagles put the Cardinals to bed when Connor Hartwell drew a foul in the box. Joao Belmudes, who scored a penalty in Charleston's previous game, would be the penalty shooter. Joao Belmudes left foot sent the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal giving the Golden Eagles the 3-1 lead that would eventually become the final.
 
Up Next:
Charleston will head to Salem University on Wednesday to take on the Tigers. Kickoff is slated for 1:30PM.