BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – West Virginia Wesleyan made an early goal stand up here Sunday night, hanging on for a 1-0 victory against West Liberty in Mountain East Conference men's soccer action under the lights at Culpepper Stadium.
    The Bobcats (7-7-2, 5-7-2) scored the only goal of the game on a set piece in the ninth minute. Connor Hartwell lofted a high corner kick into the six and Connor Hartwell rose above the pack to head it into the top left corner.
    Coach Sean Regan's Hilltoppers (6-10-0, 5-9-0) nearly equalized in the 40th minute. Charging in from the left wing, Vitor Otsuka deftly slipped a shot past the Bobcat keeper as he came off his line to challenge only to see a Wesleyan defender drop back at the last second to kick the ball away.
    That turned out to be the best opportunity of the night for the Black and Gold as neither team threatened during a scoreless second half.
    Wesleyan finished with a slender 7-5 edge in shots but had a significant 6-1 advantage in shots on goal. Noah Underwood made 4 saves in net for the Black and Gold.
    West Liberty closes out its home slate with a big test on Wednesday when the Hilltoppers host unbeaten and No. 2-ranked Davis & Elkins. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. at the West Family Athletic Complex.
  West Liberty          0  0 – 0
W.Va. Wesleyan   1  0 – 1        WVW: Charlie Naylor (Connor Hartwell), 8:22        Shots: West Liberty 5, W.Va. Wesleyan 7
       Shots on Goal: West Liberty 1, W.Va. Wesleyan 6
       Saves: West Liberty 5 (Noah Underwood 4), W.Va. Wesleyan 1
       Corners: West Liberty 4, W.Va. Wesleyan 4
A: 73