VIRGINIA BEACH -- A day to honor six senior instrumental in extending Virginia Wesleyan College's successful tradition in women's soccer turned into a day for fans to take notice of Marlins who will help keep it going.

Seniors Kristyn Anselmo (Kinnelon, N.J./Kinnelon), Kim McKinney (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright), Katie Gradel (East Northport, N.Y./Northport), Jackie Togno (Stroudsburg, Pa./Moravian Academy), Hanna Winkel (Lebanon, Mo./Lebanon), and Bethany Bayles (Manassas, Va./Osbourn Park) all started things rolling against Emory & Henry College's Wasps (8-6-1, 3-5-1) on Saturday.

But, VWC head coach Jeff Bowers utilized a deep, talented bench early and the rest was history.  The No. 17-ranked Marlins rolled to an 8-0 Old Dominion Athletic Conference victory on Foster Field at the Trinder Center, where seven goals were scored by sophomores or rookies.

Gradel emerged as the lone senior to find the net, knocking the ball into the left corner from about five yards out.  Junior Jessica Edelman (Voorhees, N.J./Eastern Regional) assisted on the goal in the 46th minute.

Rookies Caitlyn Bishop (Virginia Beach/Princess Anne) and Marta Deptula (Haskell, N.J./Paramus Catholic) led the Marlins with two goals each.  Deptula posted an assist on Bishop's second goal of the game.

Virginia Wesleyan, which improved to 14-1 overall and to 7-1 in the league, dominated from the start and posted its 11th shutout of the season, the fourth highest season total in program history.  The Marlins' defense not only denied the Wasps a goal, it also denied any Emory & Henry shots.

VWC spread out 25 shots in the game and saw its first goal recorded in the 15th minute when sophomore Nicole Martinez (Fredericksburg, Va./Chancellor) scored on a rebound shot.  The Marlins rode that goal to the 35th minute when Bishop ripped the ball in from 10 yards out, following a pass from rookie Sara Nickle (Pennsville, N.J./Memorial).

Gradel and Edelman teamed up for the Marlins' first goal of the second half in the 46th minute and juniorsChristina Fernandes (Tinton Falls, N.J./Tinton Falls) and Bre Ingargiola (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point) combined for a goal 12 minutes later.  Ingargiola posted her ninth goal of the season on a close shot into the left side.

Virginia Wesleyan scored four goals in the final 20 minutes of the competition, with Deptula scoring twice, including a diving header on the left side off a pass from Jenna Riegel (Sinking Spring, Pa./West Lawn Wilson).  Bishop and Nickle added goals for the final total.

In addition to the advantage in shots, Virginia Wesleyan also posted a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks.

Bayles protected the VWC goal for nearly 73 minutes, before rookie Alyssa Goodwin (Haymarket, Va./Battlefield) entered to finish the game.  Sarah Jerome (Charlotte, N.C./Myers Park) produced five saves for Emory & Henry.