For Immediate Release – 9/8/2015 - #037
Second Half Goals Lift Sea Gulls Past Marlins 2-0

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Salisbury University capitalized for a pair of second-half scores Tuesday evening to down the Virginia Wesleyan College women's soccer team 2-0 in non-conference action.

The two teams battled to a scoreless draw at halftime despite the Sea Gulls maintaining a 10-4 edge in shots. The Marlins placed two shots on goal that were turned away by SU keeper Hope Knussman.

Salisbury broke through in the second half when Ruthie Lucas corralled the ball on her foot outside the box on the far end of the pitch. Lucas lofted a shot that become to come down towards the end line, but was over the head of Marlin keeper Alexis Wheeler for the first tally at the 55:44 mark.

Virginia Wesleyan had multiple chances, including a beautiful shot by Kaitlyn Clunan that scooted past Knussman to her right but the Marlins were whistled for offsides.

The Sea Gulls took a 2-0 lead at 73:12 when a pass made its way inside the box. A Marlin defender and Wheeler worked towards it, fighting with Carliane LaGuerre for possession. The Gull, LaGuerre, came away with the ball and sent it to the back of the net for the score.

VWC continued to challenge Knussman, placing 7-of-10 second-half shots on goal, but Knussman made all seven stops. The Marlins' Alexia Vassiliadis boomed a line drive towards the left side of the goal but an airborne Knussman denied VWC's best attempt of the final half.

Knussman ended with nine saves for Salisbury (3-1). Wheeler made one stop for Virginia Wesleyan.

The Marlins (1-3) face Houghton on Saturday at 1 p.m. as play begins in the Christopher Newport Captains Classic.

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