WHEELING, W.Va. – The West Liberty University men's soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision to Wheeling here Saturday night in a mutual season finale under the lights at Bishop Schmitt Field.
     Daniel Skarpnes finished off an assist from T.J. Cherry barely a minute into the second half to snap a 1-1 deadlock and the host Cardinals (5-11-1, 4-10-1) kept the Hilltoppers (6-12-0, 5-11-0) off the board the rest of the way to salvage a split in the season series.
     West Liberty had handed Wheeling a 3-1 setback in their first encounter back in late September.
     The Cardinals took an early 1-0 lead on a Richard Afolayanka goal in the third minute but Liam Toman squared the match for the Hilltoppers with an unassisted goal in the 43rd minute. That set the stage for Skarpnes' game-winner just 64 seconds after the second-half kickoff.
     West Liberty outshot Wheeling, 16-15, and had a 9-7 edge in shots on goal and was awarded 6 corner kicks to just 2 for the hosts. Noah Underwood had five saves for the Hilltoppers with Tyler Serman stopping seven West Liberty shots to get the win for Wheeling.
     Long-time Cardinal head coach Jim Regan was honored prior to the match. Regan, the father of WLU head man Sean Regan, announced his retirement earlier this year after 39 years and more than 500 wins.
     West Liberty University joins the Ohio Valley soccer community to wish him well and thank him for his many contributions to the sport over the years.
       West Liberty          1  0 – 1
Wheeling                1  1 – 2        WU: Richard Afolayanka (Cesar Carlin), 2:16
       WLU: Liam Toman (unassisted), 42:13        WU: Daniel Skarpnes (T.J. Cherry), 46:04        Shots: West Liberty 16, Wheeling 15
       Shots on Goal: West Liberty 8, Wheeling 7
       Saves: West Liberty 5 (Noah Underwood 5), Wheeling 7 (Tyler Serman 7)
       Corners: West Liberty 6, Wheeling 3
A: 300