Boiling Springs, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb men's soccer team pushed their winning streak to four in a row, as the Runnin' Bulldogs defeated UNC Asheville 1-0 on the pitch Wednesday night at Greene-Harbison Field in Boiling Springs, N.C.

The win puts Gardner-Webb at7-6-2 overall, 4-2 in the Big South and a perfect 3-0 at home this season, while the loss drops Asheville to 3-8-3 overall and 2-3-1 in conference play.

The Runnin' Bulldogs controlled the ball for most of the first half, continuously putting the Asheville defense on their heels from the opening kick. However, the Runnin' Bulldogs were unable to score, as Asheville goalkeeper Lassi Hurskainen was strong in goal for the Bulldogs, posting two first half saves and intercepting many cross attempts by the Runnin' Bulldogs.

In the 15th minute, GWU's Denzel Clarke had a header sail just left of the front left post, perhaps the Runnin' Bulldogs best scoring chance in the early minutes of the contest.

Less than a minute later, Hurskainen corralled a John Sargent shot into his chest to once again deter the Runnin' Bulldogs from scoring.

GWU's Sargent would try again in the 24th minute, putting a laser on line to the goal, which Hurskainen caught and brought into his chest, keeping the score tied up at 0-0.

It appeared that the Runnin' Bulldogs broke through offensively in the 29th minute, only to have the goal called off due to an offside's call by the linesman, again keeping the match at a scoreless draw where it would stay for the remainder of the half.

Asheville took control of the ball and the match in the early minutes of the second half, putting the GWU defense back on their heels, as the visiting Bulldogs outshot Gardner-Webb 4-0 over the first 20 minutes of the frame.

However, the Runnin' Bulldogs' defense held strong, as goalkeeper Scott Krotee hauled in two key saves to keep the score knotted up at 0-0.

The Runnin' Bulldog offense begin to pick up in the 68th minute, as forward Chris Davis had a shot attempt in front of the goal blocked by an Asheville defender.

After three more shot attempts by the Runnin' Bulldogs and another save by Krotee on the defensive end, the home team got on the scoreboard in the 76th minute.

GWU freshman forward Jalen Gathers threw the ball in from the right sideline to the edge of the goalkeeper box. There fellow newcomer Ernesto Gaita flicked the ball off his head back toward the goal, where senior Richie Wall came racing in from the other side of the field and beat both an Asheville defender and the goalkeeper Hurskainen to the ball which bounced off his chest and across the goal line for the score.

The goal was Wall's first of the season, while both Gaita and Gathers recorded their first career assist on the play.

The lone goal was all the Runnin' Bulldogs would need, as the offense kept putting pressure on Hurskainen and the Asheville defense, firing off four more shots over the final 10 minutes of play in the 1-0 win.

Krotee recorded five saves, all in the second half, to post his sixth win of the year and his third shutout on the season, while Hurskainen tallied five saves in the loss.

Gardner-Webb outshot Asheville 19-10 for the match and held a 9-3 advantage over the visiting Bulldogs in corner kicks for the match.

With the win, the Runnin' Bulldogs improve to 3-0 at home on the year and 5-0-1 when scoring first on the season.

Gardner-Webb (7-6-2, 4-2 Big South) will remain at home to host the High Point Panthers on Saturday night, October 22nd, at 7 p.m.

Asheville (3-8-3, 2-3-1 Big South) will return home to host Campbell this Saturday afternoon, October 22nd, at 2 p.m. in Asheville, N.C.

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