Bulldogs Perform Magic in Win Over Presbyterian
September 24, 2008 | Men's Soccer
Boiling Springs, N.C. – Senior MF Bradley Morrison recorded
his first collegiate hat trick to lead the Bulldogs past
Presbyterian 4-0. The win moves Gardner-Webb to 2-0 in the Big
South and excels the Bulldogs win streak to three in a row.
Gardner-Webb came out strong this match, knowing that the Blue Hose
have been susceptible to early goals this season. Only five minutes
into the match, freshman forward Taylor Jordan was taken down in
the box after an impressive attack by the Bulldogs. The foul led to
a penalty kick taken by Miguel Pinzon.
Pinzon was Coach Setzer's go-to player last season in these
situations and was a perfect 2-2 from the penalty stripe. This game
faired no different, as Pinzon stepped up and blasted the ball into
the side right netting to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead. The goal
was his second of the year.
Less than 10 minutes later, fellow senior Bradley Morrison made a
run into the box and fought his way to a loose ball to score an
empty net goal which made it 2-0 in favor of GWU. Junior Logan
Swaim was credited with the assist.
Just 10 minutes after his first goal, Morrison answered with
another empty-net goal after Presbyterian's keeper misplayed the
ball. Newcomer Matt Niescierowicz played a nice ball to Morrison,
who was streaking down the center of the field, and the senior did
the rest.
Morrison's second goal pushed the score to 3-0 with 20 minutes left
to play in the first half. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs were unable
to capitalize on their other attempts so they headed into halftime
with a three-goal lead.
The beginning of the second half of play was much more physical and
it seemed to get the Bulldogs out of rhythm for a moment. However,
it didn't take Gardner-Webb long to gain back some momentum, and in
the 58th minute Morrison struck again.
His third goal came after senior Gerard Hefferon played him a ball
into the right side of the box, and Morrison finished it off the
Presbyterian goalkeeper into the side right netting. The goal
clinched the hat trick for Morrison and made him the first
Gardner-Webb player to complete a hat trick within the past 15
years.
Also, senior Gardner-Webb goalkeeper Dane Geraci notched his third
shutout in a row, which makes opponents scoreless against him in
the last 270 minutes he has been in goal.
Gardner-Webb will continue its Big South tour, as the Bulldogs head
to High Point, N.C. to play the Panthers at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
| Combined Stats |
| Team Stats |
| Individual Stats |
| BOX SCORE: GWU-4, Presbyterian-0 |
| Team Leaders |
