Penalty kicks stop VWC's bid for ODAC title

LYNCHBURG, Va. -- Penalty kicks decided the 2010 Old Dominion Athletic Conference champion in women's soccer on Saturday after Virginia Wesleyan College and host Lynchburg College battled to a 2-2 double overtime tie.

VWC goalie Rachel Calkins moved to the left to stop the Hornets' first shot and junior Katie Gradel gave the Marlins a 1-0 lead with a solid shot past Lynchburg goalie Alicia LaPorta.  But, VWC's second shot hit the post and LaPorta stopped the third.  Lynchburg backed that with two good kicks to take a 2-1 lead.

But, Calkins came up with another stop in the fourth round, when the Marlins tied at 2-2 when Jen Colwell hit on her kick.  Lynchburg came back to move up 3-2 to start the fifth round, which ended when LaPorta tied her move right to stop the VWC shot.

It was a thrilling finish to a hard-fought championship game, which saw VWC (13-4-4) tie the score in regulation on a shot by rookie Danielle Stephens who ripped the ball into the upper left corner in the 86th minute, finishing a play started by sophomore Hanna Winkel.

Lynchburg (17-2-2) took the early lead, putting the ball into the net just 2:09 into the contest when Brittany Klippenstein headed it into the left side, off an assist from Joanie Snyder.  Virginia Wesleyan tied the game in the 12th minute after a Lynchburg foul in the box gave the Marlins a penalty kick.  Kristyn Anselmo tied the score with a hard shot into the right side of the net.

Lynchburg bounced back in front before halftime however, when Katie Santos hit on a rebound shot after a shot by Klippenstein hit the crossbar and bounced back toward the Hornets in the 27th minute.

While Lynchburg receives the ODAC's automatic berth in the NCAA tournament, VWC will wait until Monday to see if it earns an at-large berth in the tournament.

--AMDG--