GWU Men's Soccer Drops Big South Opener
September 26, 2010 | Men's Soccer
High Point, N.C. - Gardner-Webb dropped its Big South Conference opener on Saturday night, as the Runnin' Bulldogs fell to the High Point Panthers 4-0 at the Vert Track and Soccer Stadium in High Point, N.C.
The Runnin' Bulldogs found themselves playing from behind early, as High Point's Scott Rojo scored from the left side of the eight-yard box on a cross from Shawn Sloan in the third minute to put the Panthers up 1-0.
After Gardner-Webb senior Romeo Kabanda had a header stopped by High Point goalkeeper Michael Chesler in the 18th minute, the Panthers' Sloan scored back-to-back goals over a three minute span to put the Panthers in front 3-0 with 18 minutes left in the first half.
GWU was able to get off four more shots in the first half, three of which were blocked by High Point defenders, yet were outshot 13-5 in the opening 45 minutes of play by the Panthers, who took a 3-0 lead into the halftime break.
After High Point fired off two quick shots in the first two minutes of the second half, GWU freshmen Nicolas Wrobel and Chris Davis combined to get off three shots in a five minute span, only to have one sail wide, one sail high and one get saved by High Point's keeper to keep the score at 3-0 in favor of the Panthers.
GWU's next scoring opportunity came in the 61st minute, as a header off the head of junior midfielder Kevin Nolan was hauled in by High Point's Chesler, keeping the Runnin' Bulldogs off the scoreboard with 29 minutes to play.
High Point, the Big South preseason favorites, added another goal in the 67th minute by way of Karo Okiomah to pull out to a 4-0 lead.
The Runnin' Bulldogs got another shot off in the 75th minute by way of freshman Chijioke Akujuobi and one more each by Wrobel and Davis in the closing minutes, yet failed to get one past the goal line and into the back of the net, dropping its Big South Conference opener 4-0.
GWU goalkeeper Adam Garcia picked up four saves in the loss, as the Panthers outshot the Runnin' Bulldogs 19-12 over the 90 minutes of play.
Gardner-Webb (2-6, 0-1 Big South) will stay on the road for its next contest, as the Runnin' Bulldogs will travel to Asheville, N.C. to face off with the Bulldogs of UNCA on Wednesday, September 29 at 4 p.m. The Big South Conference match is slated to be video streamed by the Big South Network and can be viewed by going to www.bigsouthsports.com.
High Point (4-2-1, 1-0 Big South) will step out of conference play to host UNC Greensboro at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, September 28, at 8 p.m.
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| Box Score: High Point 4, Gardner-Webb 0 |
