Wheeling, WV – Following a tightly contested 2-2 draw against Davis & Elkins on Wednesday, the Golden Eagles returned to the road Sunday, taking on Wheeling University.
The Basics
- Location: Bishop Schmitt Field
- Final Score: UC 3, WU 1
- Records: Charleston (4-4-3, 4-2-3 MEC), Wheeling (0-10-1, 0-8-1 MEC)
How It Happened
The Golden Eagles wasted no time putting pressure on the Cardinals. Li-Lou Debaecker recorded Charleston's first shot just 30 seconds into the match, while Abigail Harrison followed with the team's first shot on target two minutes later. Charleston opened the scoring in the fourth minute. Debaecker collected the ball at the top of the box before finding Zailee Roberts with a pass between Wheeling's center back and right back. Roberts finished with one touch using her left foot to give the Golden Eagles an early 1-0 advantage.
The pressure continued to build as Charleston controlled possession and kept Wheeling pinned in its own half. The Golden Eagles nearly doubled their lead just before halftime when Sydney Crowe drove down the right wing and sent a cross toward Jamie Bland, who headed the ball off the left post. Bella Cinco followed up on the rebound and found the back of the net, but the goal was ruled offside.
Wheeling came out with more attacking pressure to begin the second half, forcing Charleston goalkeeper Ines Degli Esposti to make her first save of the afternoon in the 54th minute. Charleston extended its lead in the 64th minute. Following a clearance from a goal kick, Harrison collected the ball on the right wing and went one-on-one with a Wheeling defender. After beating her defender, Harrison unleashed a shot toward the far post that sailed over the goalkeeper and into the net to make it 2-0.
The Golden Eagles added another goal in the 73rd minute. Nele Schuppe worked her way down the left wing before crossing the ball to Emilía Dís Óskarsdóttir. Óskarsdóttir laid the ball off with one touch to Sydney Crowe, who calmly placed her shot into the bottom corner with the inside of her right foot to give Charleston a 3-0 advantage.
Wheeling pulled one back in the 83rd minute on a shot from outside the box, but it was too little, too late as the Golden Eagles secured a 3-1 victory.
Up Next
Charleston returns to the Welch Athletic Complex on Sunday at 1 p.m. to take on Point Park.
