MEC Notebook

Back in the West Virginia Conference, the Wheeling women’s soccer team was one of the top programs, winning four league titles between 2001 and 2006. But since the MEC’s formation, the Cardinals have yet to finish with a winning season.

In fact, the team hadn’t won a match since the 2018 season—a streak that stretched 22 games.

That streak came to an end March 19, when the Cardinals shut out visiting Frostburg State at Bishop Schmitt Field for a 2-0 victory.

Braedynn Porter and Paige Orbell each notched a goal for Wheeling (1-4), but it was the performance of one freshman in goal that proved most beneficial.

Playing in just her fourth game of her collegiate career, freshman Jaci Wilson turned away nine Bobcats’ shots to finish with a clean sheet.

She’s leading the conference with a 10 saves per game average, with 40 stops through four games to go with her one shutout. That shutout handed Frostburg its only loss of the young season thus far as the Bobcats currently lead the Central Division with a 3-1-1 record.

Wheeling, meanwhile, is at the bottom of the North Division at 1-4. But with the pressure of that streak snapped, things could be on the up-and-up for the Cardinals. \

Thanks for her efforts, Wilson was named the Mountain East’s Defensive Player of the Week. The last time a Cardinals’ player won Defensive Player of the Week was October 30 of 2018, when Natalie Indermuhle was so honored.

Transfer Portal

Entrants from the MEC into the NCAA’s Division II transfer portal are growing. The MEC isn’t immune to this growing trend either.

But within the Mountain East, every team on the men’s side has at least one player who’s tossed his name into the portal.

For West Liberty, it’s redshirt freshman Evan Conley, a guard out of Fairfield Union. Conley played in eight games this season, scoring eight points. For Wheeling, it’s junior forward Dayne Allen, who is leaving after one season at Wheeling where he averaged 2.6 and 5.5 rebounds per game with 12 appearances including seven starts.

All told, there are 35 players from MEC teams on the men’s side that have entered the portal. Six of those teams saw one person enter. Others have considerably more, like Notre Dame’s 7, Alderson Broaddus’ 6, and five apiece for Davis & Elkins and West Virginia State.

The women’s side, thus far, is seeing considerably smaller numbers. Only three schools have players entering the portal: Alderson-Broaddus, W.Va. State and Wheeling.

The Battlers have players in the portal. Some are transferring for a better fit, while others may be searching for somewhere closer to home or more playing time.

Then there are the head scratchers.

Wheeling’s one player in the transfer portal is senior-to-be, two-time All-American and national rebounding champion Lily Ritz.

Ritz announced on her Twitter page Thursday that “After talking with my family and friends, i have decided to enter the transfer portal for my senior year. I would like to thank everyone who has supported me these past 3 years. My recruitment is now open.”

Is she looking to make a run at a NCAA championship at another Division II team? Or perhaps, she’s wanting to test that Division I water? Safe to say many eyes are watching where Ritz’s talents finally end up.

Cardinals, Hilltoppers Tabbed in Volleyball

Wheeling University placed two players on the All-MEC first team for volleyball, including Libero of the Year winner Audrey Francis. She was joined by teammate junior Kayla Bekier, along with West Liberty senior Madison Clayton.

Francis, just a junior, claimed the LOTY honor for the second year in a row during a season in which she became the MEC’s all-time digs leader. She had 7.03 digs per set, good for first in the MEC and second nationally.

Freshman Karly Niesen from Wheeling and Nyia Setla from West Liberty were named second team, with Niesen Garnering Freshman of the Year honors. Wheeling’s Lexi Reinert and West Lib’s Emily Reedy were honorable mention.

Niesen led all players in the MEC with a 12.57 assists-per-set average which also was the top mark nationally in Division II.

Fairmont State’s Julia DiPaoloa and Jenna DuFresne of W.Va. State shared Player of the Year honors with Falcons’ head coach Courtney Materazzi claiming Coach of the Year laurels.

Hilltoppers Sweep Wrestling Honors

Following a memorable season that included an MEC and Super Regional championships, a fourth-place finish nationally with two individual national champions, the West Liberty Hillltoppers’ wrestling program swept the individual honors following the season.

Atop the list is junior Cole Laya, the Division II national champion at 125 pounds who finished his penultimate campaign with an 18-1 record and now has a national title to defense his senior season.

Laya was named the MEC’s Wrestler of the Year. Teammate Ty McGeary shares Freshman of the Year honors with Notre Dame’s Matthew Kauffman. Kauffman was third at both the MEC and Super-Regional meet at 174 pounds and finished with a 12-3 mark. Like McGeary, Kauffman came in third at both the MEC and Super Region tournaments at 133 pounds.

Finally, head coach Danny Irwin earned his first MEC Coach of the Year honor. In addition to his two national champions, Irwin’s team had one national runner-up and four total All-Americans.

Red Devils’ Greenwood Honored

Wheeling punter Matthew Greenwood, a junior from St. Clairsville, earned MEC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after helping the Cardinals win the field position game, and earn their first victory in defeating Alderson Broaddus. He had a long punt of 45 yards, 15 more than his average, while tacking on four PATs in rainy-conditions during the game.

Greenwood also averaged 46 yards per kickoff. In two games, he’s totaled six PAT kicks. This is Greenwood’s second time winning the award. The first came during his sophomore season—the Cardinals’ inaugural season—back on November 18, 2019. That season, he averaged 38.07 yards per punt, with a long of 70 and eight of 50 yards or longer.

G-MAC/MEC Swimming Championships Set

The Great Midwest Athletic Conference and the MEC are holding their joint swimming championships starting Tuesday and running through Friday at the C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton.

G-MAC schools Hillsdale and Findlay won the overall meet championship last season for the women, and men, respectively. The top MEC finishers were UNC-Pembroke (women) and Notre Dame (women).

Weekly Conference Honors

The following athletes were honored last week by the MEC as the top performers in their respective sports:

Note: The MEC Notebook is a compilation of some of the top news and notes from around the Mountain East Conference the last week.