Marlins topple preseason title favorite Hampden-Sydney

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Virginia Wesleyan College's soccer Marlins emerged with an impressive road victory on Wednesday, pinning a 2-0 Old Dominion Athletic Conference loss on preseason title favorite Hampden-Sydney College.

After an evenly played first half that sent the teams to the break in a scoreless tie, Virginia Wesleyan (5-3-3, 3-1-1) returned to xxx Field in the second half to dominate the action.  The Marlins' stepped-up offensive effort paid off in the 72nd minute when junior Josh Christian (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) scored on VWC's 13th shot of the game.

The Marlins rode the lead until the 84th minute when two rookies combined efforts to give Virginia Wesleyan a 2-0 cushion. Pops Richards (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian) scored the goal, with the assist from Brian Cornell (Front Royal, Va./Warren County).

Virginia Wesleyan finished with an 18-15 advantage in shots, but the Tigers (3-7-1, 0-3-1) posted a 9-4 advantage in corner kicks. The victory was VWC's fifth straight in the series with H-SC and the 11th in the last 12 meetings with the Tigers.

Rookie goalie Alan Hinton (Bristow, Va./Haymarket Battlefield) recorded six saves for Virginia Wesleyan and senior John Robert Plyler (Charlotte, N.C./Myers Park) had six for H-SC.

Virginia Wesleyan competes again on Saturday, Oct. 9, at 2 p.m., hosting the Maroons of Roanoke College in the Homecoming & Parent Weekend game on Foster Field at the Trinder Center.  The VWC women also play that day, immediately after the conclusion of the men's game, hosting Guilford College.

--AMDG--