Box Score VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – Virginia Wesleyan College received a goal from reserve Philip Smith in the 76th minute to edge the Randolph College men's soccer team Saturday in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) play from Foster Field.
The Marlins (4-7-1/3-3 ODAC) fended off two early attempts on goal for Randolph, as a shot from Joe Skaja (Yorktown,VA/Grafton) in the fourth minute was blocked and an attempt from Corey Sindle (Gloucester, VA/Gloucester) at 22:16 was thwarted by VWC keeper Jake Burtch. Minutes later, VWC had its best chance, as Issac Arrington hit the crossbar, keeping the game scoreless.
The first half would end up goalless, with the host Marlins edging Randolph in the shot department 6-5 in the stanza. After intermission, Burtch continued to hold the WildCats off the board, making five stops leading up to goal. Randolph keeper Carter Smith (Greensboro, NC/Grimsley) was equally strong, as he made saves on Chris Cooke, Austin VonVille and Josh Kemp to keep Virginia Wesleyan off the board.
Smith notched the game winner at 75:56 of the contest, after taking a touch and beating Smith with a shot to the left netting of the goal. The WildCats posted three corner kicks down the stretch, but couldn't convert the equalizer. Sindle finished with a team-high four shots for Randolph, while Jacob Hood (New Market, MD/Linganore) put both of his attempts on goal. Smith finished with five saves on the afternoon for Randolph.
The Marlins edged the WildCats in the shot department, 15-11, but the corner kick category was knotted at eight apiece. In six non-draws in the series with these two teams, the home team has won all six meetings.
The WildCats will host Guilford College Wednesday, October 10 at 7 p.m. in WildCat Stadium.
--RANDOLPH--
