Gardner-Webb Falls to Ospreys, 2-1
October 18, 2007 | Women's Soccer
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb women's soccer team was unable to score on a few solid opportunities Thursday evening at Varsity Field and fell to North Florida by a 2-1 score in a key Atlantic Sun Conference match-up.
The Bulldogs fall to 5-9-0 overall and 3-4-0 in conference competition. UNF improves to 5-9-1 on the year and 4-3 in A-Sun matches.
With just 20 seconds remaining, the Bulldogs pulled to within one as Brittany Woods cleared a ball to a streaking Lindsey Gladhill along the far side of the field, who chipped it over Rachel Howard's head from 35 yards out. The goal sliced the deficit in half, but the Bulldogs were unable to get another shot off in the closing seconds of the contest.
The Bulldogs had a few good opportunities in the first half, but were unable to convert, rendering the contest scoreless at the intermission.
Lindsey Gladhill had a solid chance near the midway point of the half, but UNF's Howard made a spectacular stop at point-blank range.
After a foul was called on the visitors about 40 yards away on the far side of the pitch, junior Angie Harvey took the free kick with just minutes remaining in the opening period of play. She sent a spiraling ball into the box toward the far side of the goal. Curling all the way in, the ball hit the left post and ricocheted back into the playing field.
The Bulldogs were unable to capitalize on the chance as the Ospreys were finally able to clear the ball out of their defensive third.
At the break, GWU had totaled seven shot attempts to just one for UNF. However, just two of the shots were on goal.
As the teams came out of the break, UNF played with more intensity than it had in the first stanza. Just 22 seconds into the period, Lisa Taylors' cross found the foot of Alejandra Castanos, who promptly played the ball past GWU keeper Ashley Scott for a 1-0 advantage.
In the 63rd minute, the Bulldogs had a beautiful chance off a corner kick by Sarah Keyser. After the ball bounced around off a few players in the box, senior Elicia Morris pounded the ball amidst a few Ospreys, but Howard was able to make the diving save at the lower right of the goal, keeping the visitors ahead by a 1-0 score.
The Ospreys made the Bulldogs pay for not being able to score the equalizer, as Tiffany Wiggen found a loose ball in the box and tallied what turned out to be the game-winning goal, making the score 2-0 in favor of the visitors in the 74th minute of play.
For the match, the Bulldogs out-shot the opposition by tallying 15 chances to just eight for the visitors. GWU amassed 10 shots on goal while UNF managed seven.
Howard totaled nine saves while Scott notched five.
The Bulldogs return to action on Saturday at 2 p.m., as they
take on Jacksonville. Before the match, the seven seniors will be
honored as part of Senior Day, which will begin at approximately
1:45 p.m.
| Box Score |
