Two GWU Freshmen Get Career Firsts in Loss to UNCG on Senior Night
October 23, 2010 | Men's Soccer
Boiling Springs, N.C. - Gardner-Webb freshmen Stephen Maxwell and Chijioke Akujuobi each picked up their first career points, as the Runnin' Bulldogs fell to UNC Greensboro 4-1 on Senior Night Friday night at Greene-Harbison Stadium in Boiling Springs, N.C.
The speed of the Spartans of UNCG proved to be too much for the Runnin' Bulldogs on both sides of the pitch, as the Spartans 13 offside calls did not deter them from scoring four goals, three of which came in the second half of play.
The first half saw the Spartans outshoot Gardner-Webb 7-3, putting four of those on frame compared to no shots on goal for the home team.
GWU goalkeeper Adam Garcia stopped three of the Spartans' shots, however, one got past the junior from Avondale, Arizona, as UNCG's Brian Graham scored in the 23rd minute off a cross from teammate Michael Bonilla from the left side of the 18-yard box.
Down 1-0 out of the halftime intermission, Gardner-Webb picked up the pace offensively in the second half, tallying nine shots to the Spartans' eight.
Yet GWU found themselves on the wrong side of the next two goals, as UNCG's Hakan Ilhan scored back-to-back goals in a two minute span to push the visiting Spartans out in front 3-0 after 54 minutes of play.
Gardner-Webb refused to throw in the white towel on Senior Night, as the freshmen duo of Akujuobi and Maxwell put the Runnin' Bulldogs on the board in the 79th minute to spoil the shutout for UNCG and goalkeeper Peyton Ford.
The goal for Maxwell was his first career goal, while the assist was the first career assist for Akujuobi.
However, the Spartans added another goal in the 83rd by way of Adam Shore to put UNCG in front by three at 4-1 where the score would stand as the final horn sounded.
The Spartans outshot GWU 15-12 for the match, putting nine shots on goal compared to the Runnin' Bulldogs three.
Gardner-Webb tallied four corner kicks to UNCG's zero for the match, while GWU keepers Garcia and Jaap Elekan combined to record five saves for the night.
UNCG's Ford got the win, his seventh of the season, tallying two saves in 86.50 minutes of play.
Prior to the game, Gardner-Webb recognized its five seniors in Trent Kozman, Romeo Kabanda, Adam Augruso, Guy Mbanyamsig and Julian Morris.
Gardner-Webb (5-9, 3-2 Big South) will hit the road for its next contest, as the Runnin' Bulldogs will travel just down the road to Rock Hill, S.C. to face off with the Winthrop Eagles on Wednesday, October 27, at 7 p.m. The Runnin' Bulldogs will then return home for its final two regular season matches, hosting Presbyterian College on Tuesday, November 2, and Radford, on Friday, November 5.
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| Box Score: UNC Greensboro 4, Gardner-Webb 1 |
