VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia - The Virginia Wesleyan University women's soccer team (13-5-2) defeated the Hornets from the University of Lynchburg (15-5) 1-0 to win the 2021 Old Dominion Athletic Conference Championship Title. The Marlins captured their second Conference Title in program history, the first one won in 2006, with the 1-0 win over Lynchburg. Sophomore Olivia Bryant scored the game winning goal off a pass from junior Abby Peterson in the 73rd minute to clinch the victory.

INSIDE THE GAME
The two teams battled in the first half fighting each other and the wind to attempt to find the back of the net, however, neither team was successful as the score sat tied 0-0 at the halftime horn. The Marlins did control the ball more as they took eight shots in the half while only allowing the Hornets to get off two shots.

As action resumed in the second half, both teams played with more urgency needing to find the back of the net. After 25 minutes of back and forth between UL and VWU, the Marlins managed to put together a play that gave the No. 1 seed a 1-0 advantage over the No. 3 Hornets. Junior Abby Peterson passed the in from the right side of the box to the center where sophomore Olivia Bryant was to score the game winning goal in the 73rd minute. Following the goal Virginia Wesleyan sat back and played heavy defense doing everything they could to keep Lynchburg out of the net and at the end of 90 minutes, the Virginia Wesleyan Marlins emerged victorious winning their second Old Dominion Athletic Conference title in program history and first since 2006. 

Following the match, the Old Dominion Athletic Conference All-Tournament team was announced with four Marlins making an appearance. Senior defender Kennedi Anders, junior keeper Amruta Karkare, sophomore forward Olivia Bryant, and junior defender Sam Crawford all represented Virginia Wesleyan with Crawford earning Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament. 



ODAC 2021 Women's Soccer All-Tournament Team
Hanna Randolph - Bridgewater
Skyler Daum - Bridgewater
Erin Hoeh - Washington and Lee
Chloe Rapier - Washington and Lee
Sydney Dombrovskis - Lynchburg
Alix Allen - Lynchburg
Haleigh Casey - Lynchburg
Kennedi Anders - Virginia Wesleyan
Amruta Karkare - Virginia Wesleyan
Olivia Bryant - Virginia Wesleyan
Sam Crawford - Most Outstanding Player - Virginia Wesleyan

KEY STATS & FACTS

• The win was the first ODAC Champions Title for VWU Women's Soccer since 2006.
• The Marlins earned redemption from 2019 when they fell in penalty kicks to Randolph-Macon. 
• 2021 was the first time ever that both Virginia Wesleyan University and Old Dominion University women's soccer programs won their respective conference championships in the same year.
• The Marlins earn the Old Dominion Athletic Conference automatic bid to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament and will find out their future tomorrow, Monday, November 8, at 1 PM. 
• VWU has made 11 championship match appearances, including seven championship matches since 2008.