Freshmen Duo Leads Gardner-Webb Past The Citadel In Battle Of The Bulldogs
August 24, 2008 | Women's Soccer
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Rookie Paige Reagan put Gardner-Webb on the scoreboard in the 28th minute of action as the Bulldogs picked up their first win of the season, coming at the expense of The Citadel at Washington Light Infantry Field Sunday afternoon.
The Bulldogs improve to 1-1 on the year while The Citadel falls to 0-1 on the young season.
In similar fashion to GWU's season-opening contest, head coach Kevin Mounce's team gained possession from the outset and blasted a shot just 35 seconds into the match off the foot of Dawn Rollyson. However, Whitney Nave corralled the attempt.
Two consecutive shots by the home squad were thwarted by a stingy Bulldogs' defense as Jessica Stewart's shot went high in the second minute. A minute later, Jessica Tuggle made an exceptional save off Jessa Scott's shot to keep the game scoreless.
After six more shot attempts over the next 25 minutes from the Red and Black (The Citadel had none during this time), Reagan netted the Bulldogs' first goal of the season as she hammered home a goal at the 27:46 mark for a 1-0 lead.
In the 31st minute, Tuggle made another solid save off a shot by Nikki Mares, allowing GWU to maintain the lead. The Bulldogs nearly added to their lead in the 38th minute. Senior Dara Goldstein played a corner kick into the box where Reagan got control of the ball, turned and fired a shot that missed just wide right of the frame.
Newcomer Chelsea Hearne put a charge into the ball at the 44:16 mark, but Nave was up to the challenge of sending the contest into intermission with GWU leading 1-0.
The Citadel switched keepers at the break but things didn't get any better for the team as Megan Reimer sent a laser into the back of the net at the 49:30 mark for a 2-0 lead. It was the first goal of her collegiate career.
GWU continued to possess the ball for much of the second half as it sent six shots on frame in the final 45 minutes of play after tallying eight shots on goal in the first half. In the 88th minute, rookie Lauren Kelly nearly added another score for GWU, but her shot attempt hit the post.
For the game, GWU out-shot The Citadel by a 25-13 margin. The Red and Black put 14 shots on goal to just six for the home team. Jessica Tuggle notched her first shutout as a Bulldog as she stopped all six shot attempts. In the loss, Whitney Nave picked up seven saves while Laura Serafino had five.
GWU earned five corner kicks to just one for The Citadel.
"Everyone came off the bench and played well," Mounce said. "Dara Goldstein and Cristin Yasinsac played solid in the midfield. As a team, we did a lot better job today of putting shots on frame, but there are a few things we need to continue to work on.
"Our team did a good job of going out after it. The Citadel had a couple of chances off of set pieces, but our defense stepped up and made the plays."
The Bulldogs return to action Friday night at Greene-Harbison
Stadium. GWU takes on UNC-Wilmington in the third game of the
tripleheader for Bulldog fans. The GWU men's soccer team is hosting
a tournament with games starting at 2:30 p.m. Head men's coach Tony
Setzer's squad will open its season at 5:30 against Lipscomb with
Mounce's team to immediately follow the men's game.
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