VIRGINIA BEACH -- Brandon St. Amour had the aim and the distance on a high shot toward the goal from the right side of the field in Saturday's Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) men's soccer game against Shenandoah University.

Shenandoah goalie Rodrigo Casteriana (Stephens City, Va./Sherando) stretched out on a jump to tip the ball with his fingers. But, instead of knocking it over the crossbar the ball glanced off his fingertips and continued into the left corner to give Virginia Wesleyan a 1-0 lead in the second half of competition on Foster Field.

It was a goal that helped start Virginia Wesleyan on to a 3-0 victory on Senior Day at the Trinder Center, where the Marlins extended their current unbeaten streak to seven games.  The Marlins also solidified their second-place position in the ODAC at 8-2 and their overall record to 12-4-1. 

Virginia Wesleyan recorded its fifth shutout in the seven-game streak, and its seventh shutout of the season overall.  Sophomore goalkeeper Connor Kirkham (Centreville/Chantilly Westfield) protected VWC's goal for nearly 71 minutes and recorded two saves.  Senior Scott Westfall (Allen, Texas/Addison Trinity Christian) took over for almost 16 minutes and rookie Jason Hoernke (Clifton/Centreville) finished.

The trio of keepers was part of another strong VWC defensive effort that limited the Hornets (0-17, 0-10) to nine shots.  Shenandoah's best chances to score took place in the second half when the keeper came out of the goal to help and the Hornets managed two shots, both turned back by alert VWC defensive play near the goal.

Virginia Wesleyan finished with 26 shots overall, picking up the pace in the second half with 19.  Sophomore Travis Walke (Virginia Beach/Landstown) and rookie Kyle Fisher (Virginia Beach/Landstown) led the Marlins with five shots each.  Fisher fired one of his into the goal in the 67th minute to give VWC a 2-0 lead, finishing off a play that started near the left post where senior Brian Cornell (Front Royal/Warren County) knocked the ball to Josh Kemp (Frisco, Texas/Addison Trinity Christian), who crossed it in front of the goal to Fisher for the kick.

VWC capped the scoring in the 73rd minute when Cornell hit on a penalty kick. The Hornets were strapped with the costly foul when Marlins junior Jonanthan Burke (Middletown, Del./Salesianum) was taken down in the box as he raced in toward the goal.

Virginia Wesleyan closes the regular season on Wednesday, Oct. 30, when the Marlins travel to Ashland to take on the Yellow Jackets of Randolph-Macon College at 4:30 p.m.

--AMDG--