WHEELING – The West Virginia Wesleyan lacrosse team suffered through their worst offensive half of the season tonight in a 9-6 setback to the Wheeling Jesuit Lady Cardinals in the Mountain East Conference opener for both teams.

Wesleyan entered the game averaging over 14 goals a game, but wound up with just one goal in the first half and just six for the game.

Wesleyan was down 4-0 before Jessica Hardman found the back of the net with 3:17 left in the opening half.

Wheeling Jesuit tacked on one more prior to the half to take a 5-1 lead at the break.

Wesleyan dominated the first 17 minutes of the second half.

Kim Lubic and Natalie Schaffner each scored an unassisted goal in the first eight minutes of the second half to bring Wesleyan to within two, at 5-3.

Following a Wheeling Jesuit goal, Schaffner and Hardman scored consecutive goals for Wesleyan to close the score to 6-5 with 13:19 left.

Wheeling Jesuit scored the next goal goals, but Hardman tallied her third of the game with 1:38 remaining to make it an 8-6 game.

Wesleyan couldn't get any closer as Wheeling Jesuit added an insurance goal with 42 seconds remaining.

Hardman led Wesleyan with three goals while Schaffner had two and Lubic one.

The loss drops Wesleyan to 7-3 overall and 0-1 in the MEC.

The Lady Bobcats will return to action this Sunday when they host Urbana.

The game is slated for 12:30 p.m.