Soles Nets Last-Second Goal as GWU Stuns UNC Asheville With a 4-3 Overtime Victory on Thursday Night
October 21, 2011 | Women's Soccer
Boiling Springs, N.C. - Gardner-Webb overcame a three goal second-half deficit and Katie Soles delivered the game-clinching goal in the final seconds of overtime to propel the Runnin' Bulldogs to a 4-3 win over Asheville.
The comeback kids from Boiling Springs were at it again Thursday night, winning a key conference game late in the 2011 regular season despite being down three goals to none in the second half. Thursday's come from behind victory over Asheville marks the fourth time this season that the Runnin' Bulldogs have overcome a second-half deficit to avoid a loss.
The win vaults Gardner-Webb to 4-6-5 overall and 2-3-2 in the Big South. Asheville drops to 5-12 overall and 3-4 in conference play.
It was a tale of two halves Thursday night, as Asheville was able to control the game in the opening period and get open looks at the goal early and often. Asheville scored goals in the 5th and the 15th minutes off goals from Ferriss Roberts and Margo Flewelling respectively. Asheville nearly made it 3-0 in the 21st minute, but a shot by Amanda Knapp was saved on a great defensive effort from freshman defender Addison Abee.
GWU had its opportunities in the early going, but was unable to capitalize with any points. Shots by seniors Dawn Rollyson and Megan Reimer in the 26th minute nearly cut the deficit in half, but both shot attempts went wide.
The Runnin' Bulldogs defense suffered major blows with defenders Shaylyn Poppe and Sarah Morabito having to exit the game due to injury in the game's first 10 minutes. Despite the setbacks, GWU's defense stepped up when it had to and kept Asheville from extending its lead further than 2-0 the rest of the first half.
GWU came out firing in the second half, gaining goal-scoring opportunities that were ultimately denied by Asheville's defense. Megan Curan nearly scored on a header in the 51st minute but it was deterred by Asheville keeper Heather Muller.
Asheville appeared to put the game away for good in the 53rd minute when Frances Staelin took a pass from Leilani Halkiotis off a corner kick and put it past GWU keeper Erika Lenns from 12 yards out to make it a 3-0 lead in favor of the visiting Bulldogs.
GWU's defense, worn out and under-manned, stepped up the rest of the way and denied Asheville from scoring, keeping slim Runnin' Bulldog hopes alive.
Gardner-Webb got a goal back in the 57th minute off an offensive attack from Reimer, who played a cross to Rollyson who then beat Muller straight on to make the score 3-1.
Momentum of the game changed quickly, as Gardner-Webb produced another attack which resulted in an own goal when an Asheville defender was unable to clear a threatening ball, putting GWU down just 3-2.
The Runnin' Bulldogs attack would not relent, as GWU continued to fight for open looks on the offensive end. Their fighting paid off in the 66th minute as a shot off the foot of Megan Reynolds found its way through the Asheville defense to tie the score at 3-3.
Asheville nearly countered at the 71st minute mark when Halkiotis put a shot on frame, but it was saved Lenns to keep the score tied.
Reimer achieved a great look at the goal in the 74th minute, but her shot was saved by Muller and the score remained 3-3.
Michelle Jenkins, a defensive substitution following the injury to Morabito, came up big for the Runnin' Bulldogs Thursday night and nearly provided a potentially game-winning goal in the 85th minute, but her shot attempt from 20 feet out went just wide.
GWU went into the overtime period with all the momentum, and a rowdy sideline and fan base kept the Runnin' Bulldogs believing Thursday night. Those beliefs came to fruition in the final seconds of the game off the foot of Soles.
With one minute remaining in the period, Coach Kevin Mounce turned to the freshman from Pickens, S.C. for a boost on the offensive end. Soles did just that, taking a pass from Curan 20 yards out and finding her way to the middle of the field with nothing but green grass between her and the goal. With 8 seconds left on the clock, Soles fired a shot toward the left side of the goal that narrowly escaped Muller's outstretched hands and found the back of the net to give GWU a 4-3 win.
The memorable goal for Soles is her 2nd of the season and her first game-winner as a Runnin' Bulldog.
With the win, Gardner-Webb moves into the middle of the pack within the Big South Conference, gaining a crucial victory with just three games remaining and a conference tournament berth within striking distance.
Gardner-Webb looks to ride the momentum into Senior Day this Saturday, as the Runnin' Bulldogs host the Blue Hose of Presbyterian. The match, slated to begin at 4 pm, can be followed by fans via live streaming courtesy of the Big South Conference as well as by live stats at http://www.gwusports.com/liveStats/liveStats.dbml?&SPSID=46223&SPID=4170&DB_OEM_ID=10300. Asheville also returns to action this Saturday, as the Bulldogs travel to face Winthrop in Rock Hill, S.C. at 7 pm.
| Gardner-Webb vs. Asheville |
