GWU's Jordan Scores Twice, As the Bulldogs and Spartans Play to a 2-2 Draw
November 05, 2009 | Men's Soccer
Spartanburg, S.C. - Gardner-Webb sophomore Taylor Jordan scored both of the Bulldogs' goals on Wednesday night, as the Bulldogs and USC Upstate Spartans played to a 2-2 double-overtime draw in both teams' regular season finale.
With the 2-2 draw the Bulldogs move to 8-6-2 overall, while USC Upstate finishes its season with an overall record of 5-10-3.
Gardner-Webb got on the board first, as in the eighth minute junior Romeo Kabanda played a cross from the right side into the box where sophomore Taylor Jordan got his head on the ball, knocking it into the top of the goal to give the Bulldogs an early 1-0 lead.
The Bulldogs would hold on to the 1-0 lead until in the 49th minute when USC Upstate's Erkan Yildirim found an open Maurice Beggs seven yards out, who then fired a shot past GWU keeper Trent Kozman to knot the score up at 1-1.
Less than a minute later GWU's combination of Kabanda and Jordan struck again, as this time Kabanda played a cross from the left side into the middle of the box where Jordan received the pass and blasted a shot past USC Upstate's Pat Regna to put the Bulldogs back on top at 2-1.
USC Upstate was able to tie the score up again in the 75th minute, as a Gardner-Webb foul in the box gave the Spartans a penalty kick. The Spartans capitalized on the call, as Yildirim was good on the penalty kick to again tie the score up, this time at 2-2.
Gardner-Webb had two scoring opportunities falter, while Kozman made three big saves in goal over the final 15 minutes of regulation to force the game into overtime.
In the extra frame the Bulldogs had several chances to win, as in the 94th minute Jordan had a shot hit off the crossbar and redshirt-senior Gerard Hefferon had a shot blocked by an Upstate defender, spoiling his attempt to end the game.
GWU's last second effort in the first overtime period was also halted, as with eight seconds to go in the extra period, junior Guy Mbanyamsig had his shot attempt stopped by the Spartans defense, forcing the game into a second overtime session.
Neither team could find the goal in the second overtime period leaving the score knotted up at 2-2 as the final horn sounded.
Gardner-Webb was outshot by the Spartans 20-18 for the match, while Kozman hauled in seven saves over 110 minutes of play.
The Bulldogs will now set its sights on the 2009 Big South Conference Men's Soccer Championship Tournament hosted by High Point University in High Point, N.C. on November 12-15.
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| Box Score - Gardner-Webb 2, USC Upstate 2 (2OT) |
