WEST LIBERTY, W.Va.--West Virginia Wesleyan men's soccer (3-3-0) won a critical three points Friday (April 2) against West Liberty (2-4-0). Hunter Dierlam and Nika Monaselidze's second-half goals helped edge out the Hilltoppers by a final score of 2-1.
 
After a string of consecutive losses, the 'Cats needed to come out and deliver the first blow. Consecutive chances by Gustavo Hernandez and Nika Monaselidze were denied by the Hilltoppers keeper, leaving the score deadlocked at zero's going into the half.
 
Early in the second half, Dierlam found the ball on his foot in the Hilltoppers final third. Two successive dribbles found the Sacramento, California native with some open space, a strong effort with his right foot found the ball tucked into the bottom left corner of the net. The goal was Dierlam's second of the season and gave the Bobcats the 1-0 lead in the 48th minute.
 
28 minutes later, Monaselidze received a cross from Javier De Ona Garcia in the middle of the box. Monaselidze tapped the ball past Noah Underwood from right inside the six-yard box, giving WVWC the eventual game-winning goal.
 
West Liberty's Tom Humphrey got one back for the Hilltoppers in the 81st minute. Humphrey sent a cross into the box, trying to find a teammate's head. Sahil Dhunnookchand misjudged the ball and saw it fly over his head into the net to shorten the Bobcat lead to one.
 
That was all the Bobcats would need to seal their first road victory of the spring campaign.
 
Up next for the Bobcat's is a home contest against Frostburg State on Sunday (April 11).