Another heartbreaker as Marlins fall at Roanoke

SALEM, Va. -- It has been an early season of heartbreakers for the Virginia Wesleyan College men's soccer team.

The trend extended one more Saturday as the Marlins dropped a 3-2 decision to the host Roanoke College Maroons.  What made it sting somewhat was the fact the Marlins owned a 2-1 lead with with about 21 minutes to play against the Maroons, the current leaders of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

But, Roanoke's Carl Leist (Christiansburg, Va./Christiansburg) tied the game with a goal in the 69th minutes and Johnny Hughes (Salem, Va./Salem) headed in the game-winner in the 73rd minute.

It marked the third time this season the Marlins (3-5-1, 1-1) led a lead slip away, including a 3-1 lead of then No. 1-ranked Christopher Newport University, which pulled out a 4-3 win in overtime. It was also the second consecutive one-goal loss to Roanoke and the fourth in the last five meetings with the Maroons.

Sophomore Josh Richardson (Hampton, Va./Kecoughtan) gave VWC the early lead when he took a pass from John McKenzie (Virginia Beach/Landstown) and ripped it into the left side of the goal in the 21st minute.

Roanoke (6-2-1, 3-0-1) came right back to tie the game 55 seconds later when Brian White (Virginia Beach/First Colonial) kicked the ball hard at Marlin goalie Jay Coble (Portsmouth, Va./Churchland) and watched it bounce over his head and into the right side of the net.

Virginia Wesleyan regrouped quickly however, and regained the lead in the 24th minute.  McKenzie came through with the go-ahead goal into the left side.

The Marlins rode that lead through halftime and 23 minutes of the second half, before the Maroons started their comeback.

VWC finished with an 11-8 advantage in shots, including 7-4 in the second half, while the Maroons had the edge in corner kicks, 4-2.  Coble finished with one save for the Marlins.  Avery Makel (Nellysford, Va./Nelson County) had four saves for Roanoke.

Virginia Wesleyan will continue its six-game road slate on Wednesday, Sept. 28 in Ashland, Va., where the Marlins face the Yellow Jackets (3-2-2, 2-0-2) of Randolph-Macon College in an ODAC game beginning at 4:30 p.m.

--AMDG--