SALEM, Va. --- Virginia Wesleyan College's women's soccer team will compete for the Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship for the third consecutive year and fourth in the last five seasons.

The Marlins earned a berth in the title tilt by posting a 4-1 victory over the host Maroons of Roanoke College in Tuesday's semifinal contest at Kerr Stadium.  The lopsided loss avenged a 1-0 loss to the Maroons during the regular season in Virginia Beach.

Virginia Wesleyan (13-4-3) advances to the conference championship game on Saturday, November 6, at Lynchburg College.  Lynchburg (17-2-1) won its semifinal game on Tuesday, 3-0 over Washington & Lee University.  The Hornets eked out a 1-0 win over VWC during the regular season.

For now however, Virginia Wesleyan celebrates a strong effort against Roanoke (13-4-3) that began just six minutes into the game.  Junior Kristyn Anselmo (Kinnelon, N.J./Kinnelon) kicked the ball in from three yards out, completing a cross from sophomore Jessica Edelman (Voorhees, N.J./Eastern Regional) with just 6:32 elapsed.

It gave the Marlins momentum they never lost, as they stunned the Maroons with three first-half goals.  Anselmo came through again to give VWC a 2-0 advantage in the 23rd minute and sophomore Hanna Winkel (Lebanon, Mo./Lebanon) scored from the left in the 39th minute.

Halftime did little to change things for Virginia Wesleyan as the Marlins returned to the field and scored just five minutes into play.  Rookie Danielle Stephens (Round Hill, Va./Purcellville Loudon Valley) ripped the ball in in the 51st minute to give VWC a 4-0 lead.

Roanoke averted the shutout in the 70th minute when Steph Parenteau (Virginia Beach/Floyd E. Kellam) scored on a hard shot into the upper left side corner.

Both teams produced eight shots in the second half, but Virginia Wesleyan outshot the Maroons 9-2 in the first half en route to a 17-10 margin overall.  Roanoke held the advantage in corner kicks however, 6-1.

Sophomore Rachel Calkins (Pauma Valley, Calif./Temecula Great Oak)guarded the goal for VWC throughout and produced a pair of saves.  Lindsay Kooiman (Fredericksburg, Va./Mountain View) finished with 10 saves for Roanoke. 

This release is courtesy of the Virginia Wesleyan College sports information department.