Gardner-Webb Wins, 4-3, Thriller in A-Sun Action
October 28, 2007 | Men's Soccer
The Gardner-Webb men's soccer team won a, 4-3, thriller over
Florida Gulf Coast at home Sunday afternoon. The Bulldogs season
high four goals were enough to hold off the Eagles and put
Gardner-Webb at 3-6 in the Atlantic Sun Conference. More
importantly, the win ensures the Bulldogs a berth in this year's
Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament.
Florida Gulf Coast pressed the action early in the match. The
Eagles pushed the ball up the right side of the field and sent a
throughball into the box, but Gardner-Webb's Dane Geraci made an
outstanding overhead save to deny Gulf Coast and keep the match
scoreless.
Richard Godfrey changed the pace up top for the Bulldogs, making
runs and trying to confuse the Eagles' defense. He had several
oppurtunities midway through the first half, but his attempts were
stopped by the Gulf Coast goalie. However, persistence paid off for
Godfrey in the 20th minute of action. After receiving a ball in the
box, he dribbled around traffic and chipped a shot over the goalie
and into the net. Godfrey's 10th goal of the season put the
Bulldogs up 1-0.
Florida Gulf coast answered right back less than a minute later.
The Eagles sent a throughball between the Bulldogs defensemen and
put away a shot past a diving Geraci to tie the match at 1-1.
Both teams started playing very physical after both goals had been
scored. The physical play resulted in 14 fouls between the two
teams. Some looked more intentional than others, but no cards were
handed out in the first half.
Despite the physical play, the Bulldogs did not back down in
traffic. Godfrey's second goal of the match came amongst several
defenders. A ball was sent into the box and Godfrey put away the
trash in front of the net. The goal gave Godfrey his 11th of the
season and put the Bulldogs up 2-1 heading into halftime.
Gardner-Webb's defense proved to be tough coming out of halftime.
Julian Morris did an excellent job stopping a breakaway by the
Eagles and clearing the ball out of danger. The Eagles scored
shortly after on a shot coming from a few yards out from the right
side of the box.
Fouls continued to mount up in the second half and the physical
style of play began to get wreckless. After several yellow cards,
play continued and Logan Swaim found himself with a breakaway
oppurtunity in the box. Gulf Coasts' goalie made a nice save but
took Swaim out in the process and the referee rewarded Gardner-Webb
with a penalty kick. Miguel Pinzone took the penalty kick and sent
it into the right side netting to put the Bulldogs up 3-2.
Late in the half, the Eagles found a crack in the Bulldogs'
defensive back line. Gulf Coast tied the match at 3-3 with a
back-door goal off a cross that went through the box.
With only several minutes to go in the game, the Bulldogs put
together a nice drive and controlled the ball on the Eagles' side
of the field. A routine cross was sent into the box, but Gulf
Coast's keeper misplayed the ball and it went sailing over his
head. Miguel Pinzone headed the ball into the middle of the box,
and Logan Swaim put it away with a header into the right side of
the goal. Gardner-Webb's season high fourth goal proved to be
enough and the Bulldogs won by a final score of 4-3.
The Bulldogs are in action again Halloween night against North
Carolina State in Raleigh, NC. The match is scheduled to begin at 7
p.m.
| Box Score |
| Combined Stats |
