GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Guilford College women's soccer team (8-5-2, 2-5-0 ODAC) fell in a thrilling conclusion on Senior Night Saturday at Appenzeller Field at the Armfield Athletic Center, ultimately dropping a 1-0 decision to Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) power Virginia Wesleyan University (10-3-2, 5-1-1 ODAC).

Pregame, the Quakers honored their seven senior players, Lily Brown (Boone, N.C.), Madison Forrest (Fuquay-Varina, N.C.), Zekiah Johnson (Winston-Salem, N.C.), Grace Overton (Apex, N.C.), Emily Parker (Lillington, N.C.), Chloe Sullivan (Greensboro, N.C.), and Leyla Strong (Concord, N.C.) for their contributions to the Guilford women's soccer program.

Once the match began, Madison Motto (Waxhaw, N.C.)  was strong, standing tall against the 24 shots against her with seven saves, but a poor-fortune goal made the difference, dropping her to 4-3-0. Riley Keefe completed a clean sheet for the Marlins, improving to 2-0-0 with four saves on the eight shots sent her way.

Ainsley Yates (West End, N.C.) had a majority of the GC chances offensively, attempting four shots, three of them on net. Sarah Miller (Charlotte, N.C.) also had an on-frame shot while Bain, Overton, and Ashlyn Kahre (Fort Mill, S.C.) had shots that were not on goal in the match.

Alaina Alston netted the game's lone tally on her four shots in the match, three of them on-goal. Shyenne Diaz was the only other player with multiple shots on-target for VWU, with half of her four total shots threatening the twine.

The first half of action was a complete deadlock. The Marlins generally created the better pressure, attempting 11 shots to the Quakers' five, although the margin narrowed to just 3-2 in shots on goal. The Guilford backline looked more like hockey defensemen then soccer players, throwing their bodies in front of the VWU looks at the net, including at one point, on three in about a 30-second span during a sequence off a corner kick in the 35^th minute. The guests did have the halves' top scoring chance in the 32^nd minute of play on a shot by Alston, but Motto was up to the task with the save.

Into the second half, the stalemate persisted. Virginia Wesleyan got a great chance when Diaz got some space and ripped a shot, but Motto dove to her right, making the save and keeping the match scoreless.

Finally, in the 80^th minute, a broken play granted them the go-ahead tally. A pass from the left corner by Diaz was popped up into box and was caught by Motto. Unfortunately, in football terms, she could not complete the process of the catch as she came down and collided with Kylie Muse (Brown Summit, N.C.), jarring the ball free. In the cluster around the ball that ensued, Alston jabbed at it with her right and got enough juice on it to trickle in to the middle of the net for her fifth goal of the season.

In the end, that is all the Marlins required as they completed the 1-0 result.

Guilford is back at home Wednesday, October 22^nd for a clash with the University of Lynchburg. First kick is set for 7:00 PM.

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