Atkins Goal Lifts Marlins over Maroons

SALEM, Va. -- First-year Madison Atkins scored with less than four minutes remaining in double overtime to capture a 1-0 victory over Roanoke College in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) play Saturday night.

The match was significant from the beginning as Megan Gerhart returned to the starting lineup for the Marlins, collecting her first shutout in the process. Gerhart made three saves, one in each half and another in the first overtime period.

The Marlins outshot Roanoke 9-6 while maintaining a 5-3 edge in corner kicks. Virginia Wesleyan forced Roanoke (6-5-1/3-4 ODAC) keeper Sarah Dvorak to stop six shots.

The game was decided at 106:29 when Brittany Wentzel sent the ball up the pitch to Atkins. The forward chipped the ball over the head of Dvorak, who had charged out of the box to try to stop Atkins before she could make an attempt. The chip shot bounced once after it cleared Dvorak, ending in the net for the victory.

Virginia Wesleyan (7-6/5-0) play Emory & Henry College (2-7-2/0-3-1) Sunday at 3 p.m. The contest, originally scheduled for Homecoming Weekend, will be played at Roanoke College.