Tough First Half Dooms GWU Men's Soccer in Loss at Clemson on Tuesday Night
October 06, 2010 | Men's Soccer
Clemson, S.C. - The Gardner-Webb men's soccer team struggled in the first 45 minutes of play on Tuesday night, as the Clemson Tigers scored four goals in the first half in its 5-0 defeat of the Runnin' Bulldogs in non-conference action at Historic Riggs Field in Clemson, S.C.
Clemson put the Runnin' Bulldogs behind early, as the Tigers scored on its very first scoring chance when Nick Burton put a shot in the back of the net in the fourth minute to put the home team up early at 1-0.
Gardner-Webb fired off two shots over the next 10 minutes to no avail, yet Clemson broke through again in the 13th minute as Tommy Drake scored to put the Tigers up 2-0 less than 15 minutes into the match.
The first half struggles continued for the Runnin' Bulldogs, as Clemson added two more goals before the halftime break to take a 4-0 lead after the first 45 minutes of play.
In the second half, the Runnin' Bulldogs more than held its own, as Gardner-Webb refused to back down to the Tigers in a back-and-forth physical affair in which GWU fired off four shots in the final 45 minutes of play.
However, the Tigers were able to add another goal on to the board in the 48th minute by way of Austin Savage to push the home team out in front at 5-0.
Gardner-Webb goalkeepers Adam Garcia and Andrew Robinson faced an offensive onslaught from the Tigers, as Clemson took 16 shots on the night, putting seven of those shots on frame.
The Runnin' Bulldogs posted three shots on goal, as sophomore John Sargent put two on frame, while senior Romeo Kabanda tallied the other shot on goal for GWU.
For the match, Clemson outshot GWU 16-8, while the Runnin' Bulldogs were called for 13 fouls compared to the Tigers five.
The Runnin' Bulldogs have yet to win back-to-back matches thus far this season.
Gardner-Webb (3-7, 1-1 Big South) will return home to host the VMI Keydets on Saturday night, October 9th, at 7 p.m. at Greene-Harbison Field in Boiling Springs, N.C.
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| Box Score: Clemson 5, Gardner-Webb 0 |
