WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University men's soccer team mounted a strong second half comeback here Sunday but fell just short as Davis & Elkins held on for a 3-2 win in Mountain East Conference action at the West Family Athletic Complex.
      Coach Sean Regan's Hilltoppers (1-11-1, 1-9-1) found themselves in an early hole as the visiting Senators (5-6-0, 4-6-0) controlled the run of play for much of the opening half.
      Davis and Elkins drew first blood in the physical contest when WLU was whistled for a foul just outside the 18 and Matteo Ghezzi hammered home the free kick in the 14th minute.
      The Senators made it 2-0 just over a minute later when Markus Just finished off an Abel Ameyaw assist just inside the right post in the 15th minute.
      The West Liberty back line kept the deficit at 2-0 as halftime approached only to see Davis & Elkins mount one final surge in the last 90 seconds of the period.
      Hilltopper keeper Noah Underwood came up big with three straight saves in a 45-second span but the hosts were unable to clear the ball out of their end and Just ripped home his second goal of the match from just outside the 18 with only two seconds remaining in the half.
      After being outshot 11-2 over the first 45 minutes, West Liberty came out strong when play resumed. The Black and Gold's efforts were rewarded in the 61st minute when they earned a penalty kick with Bernardo Vilchis slamming it home to cut the deficit to 3-1.
      West Liberty continued to create scoring chances with good offensive pressure but D&E keeper Everton Cavalho was able to weather the storm with all three of his saves coming in the final 10 minutes.
      The Hilltoppers finally broke through in the 90th minute when Timothe TranVan chipped one past Cavalho following a battle for possession inside the box. TranVan's goal closed the gap to 3-2 but time expired before WLU could come up with the equalizer.
      Coach Regan and the West Liberty men head to Frostburg State on Wednesday for a 5 p.m. match.
  Davis & Elkins                                         3  0 – 3
West Liberty                                            0  2 – 2         DE: Matteo Ghezzi (unassisted), 13:09
        DE: Markus Just (Abel Ameyaw), 14:24
        DE: Markus Just (unassisted), 44:58         WLU: Bernardo Vilchis (penalty kick), 60:11
        WLU: Timothe TranVan (unassisted), 89:13         Shots: Davis & Elkins 13, West Liberty 7
        Saves: Davis & Elkins 3 (Everton Carvalho 3), West Liberty 7 (Noah Underwood 7)
        Corners: Davis & Elkins 5, West Liberty 5
A: 156