Marlins Fall in High-Scoring Conference Opener

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- The Virginia Wesleyan College and Lynchburg College field hockey teams combined to score five goals in the second half Saturday as the Hornets emerged victorious, 6-2, in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) opener for the Marlins.

Lynchburg scored the lone goal in the first half as Katelynn Fuhr found the back of the cage. The Marlin defense kept LC at bay the remainder of the half as Skye Swain made eight saves for VWC.

Nicole Simpao scored just 2:23 into the second half when she dribbled into the circle and found an opening for the 2-0 tally.

The Marlins swung the momentum in their direction three minutes later as Jenna Serna attempted a shot that deflected out to Caitlyn Hogge for the score, cutting the deficit to a single goal.

A play that frustrated the Hornet sideline resulted in a penalty corner mere seconds later where Karissa LeMaire found Simpao who went high for the score. That frustration fired up the guests on the field as LeMaire found Hannah Krause on another penalty corner just seconds later for a 4-1 tally.

Isabella Eldridge found Simpao for two more scores before the Marlins scored the final goal as Ashley Parker found Taylor Marshall off a corner.

The two goals for the Marlins were the most scored against Lynchburg since 2006.

Simpao finished with four goals for Lynchburg (3-3/2-0) while Beka Hess tallied two saves and Ashley Heuberger added a defensive save.

Swain finished with 10 saves for the Marlins while Samantha Hollenzer added one.

Virginia Wesleyan (2-4/0-1) hosts No. 15 Christopher Newport (6-2) Tuesday at 5 p.m.