VIRGINIA BEACH -- Scoring is usually low and bumps and bruises are normally high when Salisbury University and Virginia Wesleyan College collide in women's soccer.

Simply put, things get physical in battles dominated by defense.

That was the scenario again Tuesday on Foster Field at the Trinder Center where the visiting Sea Gulls and the host Marlins battled through 110 minutes to a 1-1 double overtime tie. The double overtime contest was the third in the past four years between the programs.

It was a hard-fought battle from the start, one that resulted in 33 fouls and seven cards. Salisbury (1-3-3) dominated tempo in the first half, but Virginia Wesleyan held the upper hand through most of the second half. While both teams had scoring chances throughout the game, defenses rose to the occasion to prevent scoring. Sherlanda Buskey (Williamsburg/Jamestown) and Abigail Nickle (Pennsville, N.J./Pennsville Memorial) were among key defenders for VWC, while Jenna DeLetto (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) and Casey Arnone (Williamsport, Md./Williamsport) came up with big plays for the Gulls.

Goalies were also instrumental in the outcome, producing timely stops at both ends of the field, Megan Gerhart (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) finished with six saves for VWC and Michelle Conrad (Smithtown, N.Y./East) recorded six for the Sea Gulls.

Virginia Wesleyan scored first in the contest, whenKristen Mack (Branchburg, N.J./Somerville) connected on a goal-scoring shot following a corner kick by Annie Hartman (Leesburg/Tuscarora) just 1:33 into competition. That's the way the score remained until the 87th minute when Salisbury scored on a penalty kick. Jenny Gavigan (Finksburg, Md./Westminster) connected on the game-tying shot with a kick into the right corner.

VWC competes again on Saturday, Sept. 20, hosting Hollins University in Old Dominion Athletic Conference play beginning at 2 p.m.

--AMDG--