VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Freshman Mo Wumpini (Chattanooga, TN) scored the game-winning goal in the 63rd minute, while junior Justin Varela (Midlothian) headed home the equalizer in the 49th minute, to give Hampden-Sydney College a 2-1 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) victory over Virginia Wesleyan University, Wednesday night on Foster Field at Tassos Paphitis Soccer Complex in Virginia Beach.

"Gritty performance by the guys," said head coach Tommy DiNuzzo. "Great response after giving up a goal at the end of the first half. We deserved that result with the resiliency we showed, and it's an important three points on the road in the ODAC."

The first half was even between the two sides, with the Tigers putting pressure on the Marlins early and the Marlins responding and putting more pressure on the Tigers later in the half. The Marlins with their increased pressure, broke through with 2:20 left on the clock to take the lead and take a one-goal advantage into the break.

It was the Tigers who took momentum in the second half, and they did not waste any time in doing so. H-SC leveled the game just three minutes and 55 seconds after the whistle blew to start the second half, as senior Jackson Burkhart (Raleigh, NC) whipped in a corner from the left side and found Varela, who beat everyone for the header in the middle of the box for the goal. In the 63rd minute, the Tigers grabbed the lead as Wumpini ran onto a ball played in between two Marlins, and beat both of them before taking a shot on with his left foot and beating the goalie. It was not smooth sailing for H-SC the rest of the way, as the Marlins ramped up the pressure following the second goal. The pressure culminated as with four seconds left on the clock, Virginia Wesleyan whipped a ball into the box that was tapped home just seconds after the clock expired, and H-SC grabbed its first ODAC victory of the season 2-1.

Sophomore Garrett Hodges (Virginia Beach) made his first career start and got his first career win for the Garnet and Grey, making four saves on five shots.

H-SC was outshot in the game (11-7) but narrowly beaten by Virginia Wesleyan in shots on target (5-4).

The Tigers will be back in action on Saturday, September 30, when they travel to Roanoke College for another ODAC matchup. Kick-off is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. at Donald J. Kerr Stadium.