Box Score For immediate release – 10/17/2015 - #082
WildCats' Goal Blitz Spurs Comeback Victory over Marlins
LYNCHBURG, VA – The Randolph College men's soccer team scored twice in a 38-second span in the second half to turn a deficit into an advantage and defeat Virginia Wesleyan College on Saturday night. The win keeps the WildCats undefeated in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) play.
The game also served as the Cancer Awareness Game for the WildCats. To find out more information on the event or to donate, please click this link.
The 'Cats came out of the gate controlling the game and putting pressure on the Marlins. Within the first five minutes, Randolph earned three corner kicks and sent four shots in the vicinity of goal, but none could find the netting. While the next few chances went the way of VWC, they posed no threat and the WildCats regained momentum shortly after.
Randolph had another four corner kicks and six more shots, but still none could find the back of the net as the score would remain tied at 0-0 heading to the second 45.
The 'Cats produced the first chance of the half but could not capitalize on another corner kick. However, VWC came down the field, and Alex Castelli was fouled just inside the 18 near the endline, giving the Marlins a PK. Josh Kemp sent the ensuing attempt into the top left corner for the 1-0 lead. It was the first goal the WildCats had given up in over four games. However, the goal energized Virginia Wesleyan and the Marlins held the run of the play until the 59th minute when Nick Rodriguez sent a shot on goal.
That shot propelled Randolph on the comeback road as it gave momentum back to the team. Then at 65:22 Troy Jurney fired a cross from near the endline into the box, and it hit the leg of a Marlin defender deflecting straight into the back of the net to tie the score. The WildCats stole the ball after the kickoff and Rodriguez streaked up the right side of the field. He beat two defenders to get to the endline and sent a perfect ball into the box where Travis Brown pounced on it for the lead.
With the second goal, the WildCats continued to push, and fired several shots, with a few going on goal. Both teams earned several more chances but the score would remain 2-1 WildCats until the final whistle.
Randolph had one more shot in the game (18-17), and landed one more on goal (10-9). The real discrepancy in stats came in the form of corner kicks, as the 'Cats had 11 to only three for the Marlins.
Connor Kirkham made eight for Virginia Wesleyan (5-5-2 overall, 2-3-2 ODAC), and his counterpart Matt Tourbin stopped eight in the victory.
The WildCats (7-3-3, 4-0-3) head to the road once again for a midweek game as they take on ODAC foe Guilford College. The Wednesday night game begins at 7 p.m.
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