WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University men's soccer team broke into the win column for the first time this season with a 2-1 win against Wheeling here Wednesday night and no one was more excited than first-year WLU head coach Sean Regan.
    "Any time you get your first win after coming to a new place, it's special," a smiling Regan said after being presented with a commemorative game ball from West Liberty President Dr. Stephen Greiner, "but when that first win comes against your dad's team, that just doubles it."
    The Cardinals (1-6-0, 0-5-0) are coached by Sean's father, Hall of Fame coach Jim Regan. Sean played for his father at Wheeling and had coached against him numerous times in scrimmages and spring "friendlies" during his previous coaching stint at Bethany.
    "But this was the first time we coached against each other in a game where it actually mattered in the standings," Sean said. "This was a game I was pointing toward when I was hired at West Liberty because it's such a great chance to bring the local soccer community together. This was a great night for Ohio Valley soccer."
    Each team squandered quality scoring chances during the first half but the Hilltoppers (1-6-1, 1-5-1) broke through in the final minute with a somewhat controversial goal.
    Following a flurry in front of the Wheeling net, yellow cards were issued and West Liberty was awarded an indirect free kick from near-point blank range just outside the six.
    The Cardinals formed a defensive wall at the goal line and WLU's Bernardo Vilchis hammered a drive into the wall. The drive bounced right back to Vilchis, who headed it home with only 11 seconds remaining in the half.
    That lead proved very short-lived. A well-struck cross from WU's Javier Mangado was nodded home by Miguel Martin in the opening minute of the second half and the teams were knotted at 1-1.
    "I knew (Wheeling) would come out flying at the start of the second half after we took the lead on a bit of a strange goal," Sean Regan said. "And they got the equalizer in the first minute. I'm very proud of the way my guys stepped up to match their intensity and delivered a quick answer."
    The Hilltoppers turned up the heat in the Cardinals' end and were rewarded when Timothe TranVan had his initial shot blocked, collected the rebound and lofted it just over the keeper to the far post where a driving Josh Yeaman headed it home.
    That goal came in the 49th minute and, while it ultimately proved to end the scoring, it didn't end the suspense.
    Both teams continued to create scoring chances over the final 40 minutes and it took some outstanding goalkeeping by WLU netminder Jorn Hocter to keep the visitors off the board.
    Hocter was charted with four of his five saves during the second half but none were bigger than the one in the 68th minute when the Cardinals were awarded a penalty kick.
    Lucas Fievet took the penalty for Wheeling and drove a low shot to Hocter's left. The Hilltopper keeper was able to get a foot on the ball and deflect it off frame before a defender cleared it out of danger.
    "Jorn came in a couple of games ago when our initial starter, Noah Underwood, was sent off with a red card during a match and Jorn has just been fantastic," Regan said. "He made some big saves for us the other night (in a tie) at West Virginia Wesleyan and stopping that penalty tonight was a big reason we won the game."
    Regan says he's pleased with the progress he's seeing from his youthful squad, which has now put together back-to-back positive results.
    "I thought the guys played really well on Sunday to come away with a point against a very good Wesleyan team," Regan said. "It's a great group of guys who have totally bought in to what we're doing.
    "I was really happy to see them have their effort rewarded with a win tonight, especially since it gives me family bragging rights – at least till we play them again in November."
    The Hilltoppers hope to keep the momentum going on Sunday when they travel to South Euclid, Ohio to take on Notre Dame in a 1 p.m. match.    
     Wheeling                                             0  1 – 1
West Liberty                                       1  1 – 2        WLU: Bernardo Vilchis (unassisted), 44:49        WU: Miguel Martin (Javier Mangado), 45:52
       WLU: Josh Yeaman (Timothe TranVan), 48:54        Shots: Wheeling 14, West Liberty 12
       Saves: Wheeling 1 (James Tyler Serman 1), West Liberty 5 (Jorn Hocter 5)
       Corners: Wheeling 3, West Liberty 2
A: 162