VIRGINIA BEACH -- It was a numbers game for Virginia Wesleyan College's men's soccer team on Saturday.

Thirty-two Marlins played, six scored goals and Virginia Wesleyan rolled to its 20th victory in the series with Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) foe Emory & Henry College.  Virginia Wesleyan won its fourth consecutive game this season, posting a 6-1 victory on Foster Field at the Trinder Center.

Virginia Wesleyan head coach Chris Mills utilized his bench throughout the game against an out-manned Emory & Henry (1-6, 0-1) squad.  The Wasps used only seven substitutes overall and could not keep up with VWC's consistent offensive production. The Marlins recorded 32 shots overall, while the Wasps managed only seven.

Stephen Sawicki (Bethesda, Md./Bethesda-Chevy Chase),Reid Peterson (Virginia Beach/Salem), Blake Eshelman (Columbus, Ohio/Reynoldsburg) andJordan Petitt (Springfield/West Springfield) guided the VWC defensive effort that made it difficult for Emory & Henry to get close to the goal.

Virginia Wesleyan closed in on the goal repeatedly and started scoring just 9:42 into the game. Josh Kemp (Frisco, Texas/Addison Trinity Christian) hit from about 10 yards out on a rebound shot following a save on a shot by Isaac Arrington (DeSoto, Texas/Midlothian).  Travis Walke (Virginia Beach/Landstown) came through with a bicycle kick to give the Marlins a 2-0 lead in the 16th minute, putting the ball into the left side of the neft off a feed from senior Brian Cornell (Front Royal/Warren County).

The Marlins added a third goal shortly before the end of the half, when rookie Kyle Fisher (Virginia Beach/Landstown) ripped the ball in on a short kick to the left following a corner kick by Philip Smith (Fredericksburg/Massaponax).

Virginia Wesleyan wasted little time in getting back on the scoreboard in the second half as Arrington found the back of the net when he boomed a shot from about 15 yards out on the run from the right just 52 seconds into the action.  Seven minutes later Cornell followed with another booming shot, this one into the middle of the goal from about 20 yards out.

VWC increased its lead to 6-0 three minutes after Cornell's goal when Peterson put the ball into the goal near the right post in the 56th minute.  Chris Cooke (Hampton/Phoebus) assisted on the score.

Emory & Henry averted the shutout in the 59th minute when Kenny Sterne (Lynchburg/Holy Cross Catholic) scored from 10 yards out.

In addition to the big advantage in shots, Virginia Wesleyan also posted a 9-1 advantage in corner kicks. 

Connor Kirkham (Centerville/Chantilly Westfield) started in goal for the Marlins and recorded one save in nearly 58 minutes.  Rookie Jason Hoernke (Clifton/Centreville) took over for the final 32:09 and recorded two saves.  Joe Kedanis (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) recorded 13 saves for Emory & Henry.

Virginia Wesleyan competes again on Saturday, Sept. 28, traveling to Lynchburg to face Randolph College's WildCats in an ODAC game starting at 4:30 p.m.

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