VIRGINIA BEACH -- Seven Marlins scored goals Saturday on Foster Field at the Trinder Center as Virginia Wesleyan College's women's lacrosse team used a balanced offense to post a 20-11 Old Dominion Athletic Conference win over the Quakers of Guilford College.

Ironically, Guilford (2-6, 1-1) scored the first goal of the game when rookie E'Leyna Garcia (Plantation, Fla./Pine Crest) fired the ball in a little more than two minutes into the competition.

That was the only lead of the game for the team from North Carolina though, as Virginia Wesleyan (4-5, 2-1) reeled off seven straight goals to take a lead that was never threatened.  The Marlins led 12-4 at halftime and outscored Guilford 8-7 in the second half.

It was a night of big numbers for several VWC players, including senior Tara Harding (Waterford, N.Y./Clifton Park Shenenedehowa), who produced career-high numbers with six goals and 10 ground balls, the latter tying the third highest total in VWC history.

Juniors Courntey Williams (Leonardtown, Md./Leonardtown) and Natalie Belva (Colorado Springs, Colo./Liberty) both scored four goals each.  Williams also led the Marlins with a career-high eight draw control wins. 

Sophomore Taylor Harding (Norfolk, Va./Norfolk Collegiate) also came up big, scoring a career-high three goals on perfect shooting.  She attempted only three shots.

Virginia Wesleyan produced a 38-18 advantage in shots and held a 28-22 edge in ground balls.  The Marlins also won 20 of the 33 draw control battles. 

Goalie duties were shared by Brittany MacKnew (Abingdon, Md./Bel Air) and Michelle Mace (Dumfries, Va./Woodbridge Forest Park)for the Marlins.  Both women recorded a pair of saves.  Liza Mettler (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Beaumont) was in goal for Guilford and produced six saves.

Summer Frazier (Kingwood, Texas/Kingwood) led the Quakers with four goals.  Garcia finished with three.

VWC competes again on Tuesday, Mar. 29, play at St. Mary's College in Maryland at 4 p.m.

--AMDG--