VIRGINIA BEACH -- It was only appropriate that Virginia Wesleyan College's winning goal in a 2-1 overtime thriller over Bridgewater College on Saturday was produced by the Marlins' top two leading scorers.

Overtime in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) quarterfinal tournament game on Foster Field at the Trinder Center was only 18 seconds old when rookie Kyle Fisher (Virginia Beach/Landstown)beat the Bridgewater defense on the left side of the goal to rip the ball into the right corner for the winning score.  His accomplice was senior Brian Cornell (Front Royal/Warren County), who crossed the ball from the left.

The goal was Fisher's ninth of the season, tying him with Cornell for the Marlins' goal-scoring lead so far this season. The victory was the 14th of the season for Virginia Wesleyan, which increased its current undefeated streak to nine straight games.  Ironically, the streak began at the beginning of October after the Marlins dropped a 1-0 decision to Bridgewater on the Eagles' field.

Virginia Wesleyan advances to the ODAC semifinals on Wednesday, Nov. 6.  The Marlins will host the Hornets (11-5-2) of Lynchburg College on Foster Field.  Time will be announced. VWC defeated Lynchburg 1-0 on Oct. 16 in overtime on a goal scored by Fisher.

Virginia Wesleyan (14-4-1) produced numerous scoring chances throughout the game, but missed the mark on one hard shot after another. Bridgewater (8-8-3) matched the Marlins shot-for-shot in the first half, both with five, but could not keep up the pace in the second half.  Virginia Wesleyan outshot Bridgewater 14-6 in the second half to finish with a 20-11 advantage overall.

The Marlins took the lead in the 77th minute when juniorIsaac Arrington (DeSoto, Texas/Midlothian) scored his fourth goal of the season. He connected on another hard shot from about 10 yards out, ripping the ball into the middle of the net.

As time continued to tick off the scoreboard clock, it looked as though the 1-0 score would stick...but, it didn't. Bridgewater averted a regulation-time loss when Patrick Thornton (Bowie, Md./Bowie) knocked the ball into the left corner off a cross from Ben Lewis (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) in the 87th minute.

Sophomore goalie Connor Kirkham (Centreville/Chantilly Westfield)recorded five saves for Virginia Wesleyan. Kevin Morris (Westminster, Md./Westminster) finished with four saves for Bridgewater.

--AMDG--