The Virginia Wesleyan University men's soccer team (10-2-3, 5-1-1 ODAC) tied conference opponent Bridgewater on Senior Day.
Before the start of the game, the Virginia Wesleyan Men's Soccer program honored its 11-member senior class, which included
Ethan Clark,
Hunter Edwards,
Aria Kimiavi,
Josh Condit,
Nate Mitchell,
Juan Tovar,
Alex Moody,
Spenser McCannon,
Christopher Garcia Ortega,
Cam Khorassani, and
Everett McCloskey.
Ben Haynes played the full 90 minutes in net making four saves, including a penalty kick save, and allowed one goal.
It was a physical contest from the start, as both teams did not give the other an inch. Bridgewater caught a break in the 16th minute as they were awarded a penalty kick on a handball in the box after a freekick cross in the box.
Ben Haynes saved the penalty kick but the rebound off the save was scored by the penalty kick taker to put the Eagles up 1-0.
The Marlins continued their pressure and in the 40th minute of play,
Giovanni Zizza scored off a weak clearance. Zizza with a left-footed rocket into the top left corner of the net. The teams were deadlocked at 1-1 at halftime.
In the second half, the Marlins continued their offensive pressure and outshot the Eagles 11-4 with four shots on net. In the last five minutes of the game, Virginia Wesleyan had two golden opportunities as
Zach Bittler got past his defender and past the keeper's dive to hit a bad angle shot that was saved by an Eagles defender in the 88th minute of play. One minute later, Bittler was able to get on the end of a cross with a nice header back to the opposite side of the net that the keepers saved to keep the teams tied at 1-1.
