VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.- Eastern University Women's Soccer took a 1-0 first-half lead at No. 20 Virginia Wesleyan, but the host Marlins (2-0) found a pair of goals in the second half to emerge with a 2-1 win in what turned out to be the championship game of the Orthopaedic Associates of Virginia Classic.

Though the Marlins had more of the play through the opening half hour, the Eagles used their time on the ball to create several good chances. Those chances finally bore fruit in the 31st minute in a transition moment. After a couple quick passes in the midfield brought the Virginia Wesleyan back line forward just a bit, Elisa DiRenzo found Kelsey Doutrich in a bit of space behind the Marlin line. VWC goalie Erica Heil turned away Doutrich's first shot, but the senior midfielder battled for the rebound and pushed the ball over the line for her second tally of the season.

The Eagles held the edge through the intermission, but the intense heat and humidity helped the deep Marlin bench to begin to gain effectiveness as the second half began. The Virginia Wesleyan pressure finally paid off in the 55th minute. A good ball through a seam in the Eastern defense put Breanne Ingargiola in alone on the Eastern goal. Alysia Goodman made the initial save, and she got a hand on Ingargiola's rebound attempt, but the ball inched just over the line before Goodman was able to bat the ball back into play.

With the game tied at 1-1, the Eagles generated a few chances, but the waves of Virginia Wesleyan attackers forced a more defensive posture. VWC picked up the game-winner on a cross and finish after an Eastern turnover in the 78th minute. 

Down 2-1, Eastern found a second win and began to turn the game. The Marlin defense, however, was up to the challenge and despite several good chances, there would be no late equalizer for the visitors.

"I was pleased with our fight," Eastern Coach Dan Mouw remarked, "it was one of those days, where you start to sweat the second you get off the bus. We have some things to work on for sure, but we went toe-to-toe with a very good and very deep team on their field with some tough circumstances. We will be better for it."

The Eagles (1-1) will not get a break in the schedule as they travel to No. 18 Stevens on Wednesday before opening the home portion of the schedule against No. 16 California Lutheran.