Gaines' Goal Not Enough as Bulldogs Fall to Chanticleers, 3-1
October 08, 2009 | Men's Soccer
Conway, S.C. - Gardner-Webb redshirt-senior Jordan Gaines' first goal of the season was not enough, as the Bulldogs dropped its first conference road contest of the season on Wednesday night, falling to the Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina, 3-1.
With the loss the Bulldogs fall to 5-3-1 overall and 2-2-1 in conference play, while with the win Coastal Carolina improves to 4-2-4 and 1-0-1 in the Big South.
After a first half that saw both teams go toe-to-toe in what was a very evenly played bout, both teams had three shots, one corner and two offside calls, the halftime score remained even at 0-0.
Yet the second half would prove to be much different, as the two teams combined for four goals in the final 45 minutes of play, with the Chanticleers holding on to the 3-1 advantage when the final horn sounded.
Coastal Carolina got on the board first in the 48th minute, as Alex Russell hauled in a rebounded ball from 20 yards out, aimed and fired, putting a shot past GWU goalkeeper Trent Kozman for the first goal of the game.
Up 1-0, the Chanticleers added another goal only five minutes later, as in the 53rd minute Robert Hunter put a cross pass into the box, finding teammate Riley Phelps who found the back of the goal to put the home team up 2-0.
With their backs against the wall down 2-0, the Bulldogs responded in the 55th minute as Gaines scored off an indirect kick, receiving the ball from fellow senior Gerard Hefferon and then beating the Coastal Carolina keeper Scott Angevine on the right side to cut the Chanticleer lead to one at 2-1.
However, the next goal would go to the Chanticleers, as Hunter beat GWU's Kozman to score and put Coastal Carolina up 3-1, where the score would stand at the end of the contest.
Coastal Carolina outshot the Bulldogs 12-8, while both teams combined to put only seven shots on target for the entire 90 minutes of play.
The GWU goal was Gaines' first on the season, while the assist was Hefferon's third on the year.
Gardner-Webb will return home and step out of conference play for its next contest, as the Bulldogs will host the Eagles of Georgia Southern on Saturday, October 10, at 2 p.m. The match is slated to be video streamed via the Big South Network and can be accessed by going to www.bigsouthsports.com.
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| Box Score: Coastal Carolina 3, Gardner-Webb 1 |
