Marlins to Face Randolph in Semifinals

SALEM, Va. -- Eighth-seeded Virginia Wesleyan College stunned top-seeded Roanoke College with a 2-0 victory in an ODAC quarterfinal game played on the Maroons' field.  Virginia Wesleyan (7-10-1) entered the tournament as the No. 8 seed, while Roanoke (12-6-1), the ODAC leader most of the season, was the No. 1 seed.  

Virginia Wesleyan advances to the semifinals on Tuesday, Nov. 1, when the Marlins play at Randolph College at 7:00pm.  Randolph rallied for a 2-1 overtime win over Randolph-Macon College in another quarterfinal contest on Saturday.

Saturday's victory marked the third consecutive win for Virginia Wesleyan (7-10-1), and the fourth in five games.  It also avenged a tough 3-2 loss at Roanoke in the regular season meeting in September.  The Maroons scored two goals in the final 21 minutes to pull out that win.  It was one of eight one-goal losses for VWC this year, including five to ODAC opponents.

Virginia Wesleyan came out strong and attacked the goal consistently.  While the Marlins took seven shots in the first half, the defense limited Roanoke to just one.

Virginia Wesleyan scored on its fifth shot when rookie Tanner East knocked the ball into the right side of the goal in the 23rd minute.  The teams traded a shot each in the following minutes, before sophomore Jordan Elgin came through with a header off the post into the left side of the game in the 39th minute.

Virginia Wesleyan managed only three shots in the second half, but maintained a solid effort defensively to keep the Maroons out of the net.

Virginia Wesleyan out-shot Roanoke 10-7 overall, while the Maroons held the advantage in corner kicks, 7-3.

Senior goalie Ryan Zmuda recorded three saves in goal for the Marlins.  Avery Makel finished with three saves for Roanoke.

This release is courtesy of the Virginia Wesleyan Sports Information Department.