Hearne's Header Leads Bulldogs Past Spartans
September 14, 2008 | Women's Soccer
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Rookie Chelsea Hearne headed home the golden goal for Gardner-Webb in the 24th minute, giving the Bulldogs a 1-0 win over former A-Sun rival USC Upstate Sunday afternoon.
The win snaps the Bulldogs' four-match skid and moves them to 2-5 on the season. USCU falls to 1-4 on the young season.
Head coach Kevin Mounce had stated that things would start going GWU's way eventually, and it seemed to happen Sunday afternoon. From the opening whistle, the Bulldogs attacked the Spartans' defense. In the first stanza alone, GWU fired off 12 shots while controlling virtually the entire 45 minutes of play. The Bulldogs didn't allow USCU to get a shot off in the first half.
Rookies Chelsea Mosko and Lauren Kelly each rocketed shots in the first 2:12 of the match, but Brittany Daughtry was up for the challenge, keeping the match tied 0-0.
GWU had three more shot attempts over the next 20 minutes of play while limiting the Spartans to one corner kick. At the 24:43 mark, junior Kasey Gladhill took a corner kick for the Bulldogs and played a beautiful ball into the box where a crashing Hearne headed the ball past Daughtry for a 1-0 lead GWU would not relinquish.
The Bulldogs continued to pressure the Spartans' defense and Daughtry in the opening minutes of the second half, firing off four more shots in the first 16 minutes of play. It wasn't until the 63:16 mark when USCU finally recorded its first shot of the match, which sailed astray.
After one more shot a few minutes later, the Spartans' sent a shot towards the back of the net in the 84th minute, but GWU keeper Sarah Wyszynski gobbled up the ball to preserve the shutout.
The contest got a little physical in the final 3:04 as three players – one for GWU and two for USCU – were cited for yellow cards.
For the match, the Bulldogs tallied 20 shots, nine of which were on goal. The Spartans managed a mere three shots and only one was on frame.
GWU had possession for much of the match, and amassed eight corners to show for it compared to just three for USCU.
The Bulldogs will look to continue their winning ways on Thursday when they hit the road for a non-conference contest against East Carolina. Match time is slated for 4 p.m.
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