After losing the night before 3-0 to the Atlanta Silverbacks, the Virginia Beach Mariners earned their first road win of the year with a 2-1 victory over the Backs which ended their 11 game winless streak.
In the fifth, after a scramble in the Backs' goal area, the ball found defender Russell Hutchinson outside on the left, who sent a pass into the middle where forward Dave Castellanos volleyed his 4th goal of the year past a diving Joe Barton for a 1-0 lead.
The Backs equalized in the 20th when a long ball down the left wing was ran onto by David Hayes, who's cross into the middle was struck first time by Fabian Dawkins past keeper Matt Nelson. It was Dawkins 7th of the year as Hayes picked up his 2nd assist.
The half ended 1-1 but the action wasn't over yet as defender Antonio de la Torre was given a yellow for expressing his displeasure with the refs. Coach Jason Smith had to pull de la Torre away, but not before the yellow was given.
The Mariners controlled the second half with stellar play by their defense as they out shot the Backs 6-0. The Backs were also hindered by the flu bug that took out forward Gary Brooks, who had a tremendus night before with 2 goals and an assist in the 3-0 win.
Former Silverback John Barry Nusum made his return to Dekalb Memorial Stadium something to remember when in the 53rd, he hit the net with a pass from Timothy O'Neill from the right wing. Nusum notched his first goal of the year with Mariners which turned out to be the game winner.
The Backs' 2 game win streak under new coach Smith ended, putting the team at 5-6-3 while Virginia Beach, who fell into last place the night before with Toronto picking up their first win over Minnesota, climbed back out to 11th place with a 2-9-4 record. The Backs next game is home July 4th against the Rochester Raging Rhinos.
Lineups:
VB-Nelson, Danbusky, Morelli, Hutchinson, Myers, Caskey, O'Neill, Fenger(Nolz), Shak, Nusum(Bennett)(Ukah), Castellanos(Amani-Dove)
ATL-Barton, Chevalier(McManus), Afful, DeLima, Mattison(Stone)(Ilarionov) Hayes,Chacon, Rios, de la Torre, Brooks(Millwood), Dawkins
Cautions:
VB-Shak
Atla-Chevalier, Brooks, de la Torre
