Galway Goal Lifts Marlins Past Roanoke

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The Virginia Wesleyan College women's soccer team needed just one goal Saturday to defeat Roanoke College 1-0 in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) action.

The Marlins had an early opportunity five minutes in when Annie Hartman connected across the goal mouth to Brooke Adamchak, but her shot from six yards out was right at the keeper.

Virginia Wesleyan took advantage of its next opportunity when Hartman attempted a corner kick. It came off her right foot to Catherine Galway who took the first touch from about six yards, finishing off the score.

The best chance for Roanoke to even the score came with 1:45 remaining in the half off a corner kick that went right to the head of Laura Sullivan, but her shot went off a defender in the box. 

Roanoke kept the offensive pressure up, finally getting loose in the box with about 11 minutes left, but a great defensive play by Virginia Wesleyan with a tackle at the same time as the shot, avoiding an open look by Sierra Lynn-Johnson. It was the first shot from inside the box all game for Roanoke.

Roanoke's last chance came with about three minutes left when Taylor Sayegh served the ball in from the right side for a header by Lynn-Johnson who directed it at the low right post, but it was smothered by Taylor Chapman.

Virginia Wesleyan held a 17-11 advantage in shots while corner kicks were even at five.

Chris Martin made six saves for Roanoke (4-5-3/2-2) while Chapman stopped four shots for the Marlins.

Virginia Wesleyan (6-4-1/3-0-1) travels to Randolph-Macon College (2-4-2/1-1) Wednesday for a 4 p.m. ODAC start.