Gardner-Webb Shuts Out Jacksonville, 1-0
October 07, 2006 | Men's Soccer
Boiling Springs, N.C. - On Saturday afternoon, the Gardner-Webb men's soccer team picked up its first ever win over Jacksonville, shutting out the Dolphins for a 1-0 victory at Varsity Field.
The win moves the Bulldogs to 3-6-1 overall and 3-1-0 in A-Sun Conference play, while the Dolphins fall to 3-8-1 and 1-2-0.
The win for the 'Dogs came by way of the foot of one senior and the hands of another, as Jamie Miller scored the game winning goal midway through the second half and keeper Tyler Kettering made three specatcular saves to seal the victory for GWU.
At the half, it was knotted up at 0-0 as neither team could get their offenses going, combining for only two shots on frame and seven total shots for the period.
The Bulldogs best chance to score in the first half came with 8:54 remaining, when Richard Godfrey was fouled in the box by a Dolphin defender, giving the 'Dogs a penalty kick. Boris Gatzky lined up for the kick, but had his shot gathered in by JU's keeper Chad Comroe, diving to his right to make the stop.
The action picked up in the second half, as both teams begin to press for shots, with the Bulldogs getting seven chances and the Dolphins taking four.
With Jacksonville playing a man down due to a red card at the 58.67 mark, the 'Dogs consistently put pressure on the JU defense, attacking from all sides of the field.
Miller's goal came at the 67.47 mark when he received a pass from Miguel Pinzone off a free kick. Miller dribbled up and shot a slicing laser from 30 yards out through the Dolphins defense, past GK Comroe and into the back of the net, giving the 'Dogs a 1-0 lead.
Kettering, who had no saves in the first half, came up big for the 'Dogs, making not one but two unbelievble stops within a :06-second span. With 19:24 remaining in regulation, Jacksonville's Anton Axelsson got free past the GWU defense and took a shot from 7 yards out, only to be knocked away by a diving Kettering. With the rebounded ball still loose in front of the goal, Axelsson took another shot toward the top left of the frame, only to have Kettering fly through the air with reckless abandon and swat the ball out of bounds.
At the 82:41 mark of the match, Kettering would come up big once again for the 'Dogs, making yet another diving stop on a Brian Cocciolo shot, to perserve the 1-0 win.
Kettering had four saves en route to his second shut out of the year.
The Bulldogs will again be at home next week, as they will take on Big South foe VMI on Tuesday, October 10, at 6 p.m. and will host A-Sun rival Campbell on Saturday, October 14, at 5 p.m. The match on Saturday will be Senior Day for the 'Dogs.
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| Game 11: Jacksonville vs. Gardner-Webb Box Score |
| 2006 Men's Soccer Season Statistics (Printable) |
