VIRGINIA BEACH -- Anyone who might have forgotten about Katie Gradel's canon kick got a reminder Wednesday in Virginia Wesleyan College's thrilling 1-0 Old Dominion Athletic Conference victory over Bridgewater College.

With time expiring in the game on Foster Field at the Trinder Center, Gradel (East Northport, N.Y./Northport) broke through a group of Bridgewater defenders to connect for a booming kick from about 15 yards out on the left to produce the winning goal for No. 13/17 ranked Virginia Wesleyan with just 16 seconds on the clock.

It was only the second goal of the season, but a satisfying one for Gradel, whose playing time has been limited this season as she recovered from injury.  Gradel tied for the third highest goal total for VWC as a junior and was the team's leading scorer as a sophomore.

Her hard kick Wednesday helped Virginia Wesleyan to improve to 15-1 overall and to 8-1 in the ODAC.  Bridgewater, which has never defeated Virginia Wesleyan in a 16-game series that began in 1999, dropped to 12-4 overall and to 7-3 in the ODAC.

It was anything but easy, however, for VWC.  The vastly improved Bridgewater squad utilitzed its speed to disrupt possession or divert Marlin shots. 

But, the host team continued to attack and finished with advantages in shots, 12-7, and corner kicks, 7-2. 

Virginia Wesleyan's defense stood firm once again, posting its fourth consecutive shutout and 12th of the season, the fourth highest total in VWC history.  VWC teams have not allowed Bridgewater a goal in 14 consecutive games.

Sophomore Erica Keil (Wayne, N.J./DePaul Catholic), currently ranked No. 10 nationally in goals against average, recorded three saves and improved her GAA to 0.33.  Bridgewater goalie Mackenzie Gates (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) finished with seven saves.

Virginia Wesleyan competes again on Saturday, Oct. 22, in a showdown between the ODAC's top two teams at 1:30 p.m. in Lynchburg, Va., against the Hornets of Lynchburg College.  LC is ranked No. 13 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of American top 25 and No. 15 by D3soccer.com.

--AMDG--