INSTITUTE, W.Va. – The West Virginia State University women's soccer team battled visiting Wheeling University to a 2-2 draw on a rainy Wednesday night at Lakin-Ray Field at Dickerson Stadium. Kaylee Smith and Leila Karam provided the second-half goals for the Yellow Jackets. WVSU moves to 3-2-3 overall and 3-1-2 in Mountain East Conference play, while Wheeling stands at 0-7-1 overall and 0-5-1 in conference action.
Wheeling opened the scoring in the 18th minute, intercepting a WVSU pass and converting for the early lead. The Cardinals added another goal in the 37th minute to build a 2-0 advantage. The Yellow Jackets managed one shot in the opening half, a 23rd-minute attempt from Smith that sailed wide left.
WVSU came out aggressive in the second half, earning a pair of early corner kicks that produced its first shot on target from Smith in the 51st minute. Minutes later, the Yellow Jackets drew a foul inside the 18-yard box, allowing Karam to convert the penalty kick and trim the deficit to 2-1.
The Yellow Jackets maintained continuous pressure, generating an attempt from Maria Alejandra Hernandez Diaz before Smith took a pass from Karam and scored the equalizer to make it 2-2. Celina Seggelmann came up with a save in the 86th minute to preserve the tie before a final Wheeling attempt missed wide left as time expired.
WVSU outshot the Cardinals 5-2 in the second half, including a 3-0 edge in shots on goal. The Yellow Jackets also earned six corner kicks while holding the Cardinals without a corner kick attempt for the match.
WVSU returns to action Sunday, Sept. 27, traveling to Fairmont, W.Va., to face Fairmont State University. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
