LYNCHBURG, Va. -- Virginia Wesleyan College's intense rivalry with Lynchburg College added another chapter Saturday, but not the way the Marlins hoped it would be written.

After leading the game for 84 minutes, the Marlins saw Lynchburg's Hornets score two goals in just 48 seconds to steal a 2-1 Old Dominion Athletic Conference victory.

The loss, only the second of the season in 17 games for No. 13/17 ranked Virginia Wesleyan, snapped a five-game winning streak for the Marlins, now 15-2 overall and 8-2 in the league.  Lynchburg, ranked No. 13 and 15 in the two national polls, improved to 15-2-1 overall and to 10-0-1 in the loop.

Virginia Wesleyan took the lead early when sophomore Danielle Stephens (Round Hill, Va./Purcellville Loudoun Valley) scored off a pass from sophomore Angel Horowitz (Bushkill, Pa./East Stroudsburg North) in the 20th minute.

Lynchburg out-shot VWC 7-3 in the first half and remained scoreless, but stepped things up a notch to out-shoot the Marlins 11-5 in the second half.  Still, the VWC defense held up well and kept the Hornets out of the net...until the 85th minute.  After a VWC foul, the Hornets' Jessica Gonzalez (Springfield, Va./West) tied the game on a free kick from about 25 yards out.

That tied the game, briefly.  The Hornets took possession of the ball after the score and produced a rare breakaway that resulted in Kristen Melchiori (Chantilly, Va./Chantilly) scoring off a pass from Dessi Dupuy (Lynchburg, Va./E.C. Glass), still in the 85th minute.

Virginia Wesleyan had five minutes to find the equalizer, but Lynchburg's defense held on to nab the win.

Lynchburg held advantages in shots, 18-8, and corner kicks, 8-1.  Sophomore goalie Erica Keil (Wayne, N.J./DePaul Catholic) finished with seven saves.  Jackie Bader (Fort Washington, Md./Bishop Ireton) had one save for Lynchburg.

Virginia Wesleyan closes the regular season at home on Tuesday, Oct. 25, hosting the Yellow Jackets of Randolph-Macon College at 4 p.m.

--AMDG--