ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. -- Virginia Wesleyan College's men's soccer team came on strong in a second overtime period on Tuesday in a non-conference match against the host Bishops of North Carolina Wesleyan College.

The Bishops held up however, as the contest ended in a 2-2 double overtime tie.  VWC is now 7-4-1 and NCWC is 4-5-2.

Virginia Wesleyan outshot the Bishops 4-2 in the second OT, and 5-3 in overtime competition overall, but could not find the goal to end the tie.

The Marlins never trailed in the game, taking the lead in the fifth minute when sophomore Travis Walke (Virginia Beach/Landstown) got the ball past the goalie who had come out of the net. NCWC tied the score in the 14th minute when Sebastain Wiiala (Stockholm, Sweden/Nacka Gymnasium) scored off an assist by Samba Cande (Fall River, Mass./B.M.C. Durfee).

Virginia Wesleyan regained the lead minutes later when Brian Cornell (Front Royal/Warren County) fired the ball past the keeper in the 27th minute to give the Marlins a 2-1 advantage.  Cornell increased his team-leading goal production to seven, just one shy of tying his career high of eight set last season.

North Carolina Wesleyan tied the game in the 64th minute when Alex Mansaray (Sierra Leone/T.C. Williams, Va.) tallied, assisted by Thorfinnur Thorfinnsson (Borgarnes, Iceland/Borgarholtsskoli).

Jason Hoernke (Clifton/Centreville) produced three saves in goal for Virginia Wesleyan.  Drew Thompson finished with three saves for NCWC.  The Bishops finished with a 17-13 edge in shots and a 7-6 advantage in corner kicks.

Virginia Wesleyan returns to competition on Saturday, Oct. 12, hosting Washington and Lee University in an Old Dominion Athletic Conference game beginning at 7 p.m.

--AMDG--