GWU Celebrates Senior Day with Third Straight Win, Knocks Off Presbyterian 3-0 on Saturday
October 22, 2011 | Women's Soccer
Boiling Springs, N.C. - Gardner-Webb got goals from three different players, including one form senior Dawn Rollyson in her last home game as a Runnin' Bulldog, and played solid defense throughout to knock off Presbyterian 3-0 in Big South Conference on Saturday.
With the win, GWU jumps to 5-5-6 overall on the year and 3-3-1 in conference. The Blue Hose drops to 3-12-2 and 1-5-2 in the Big South.
GWU, coming off a dramatic 4-3 come-from-behind win over UNC Asheville on Thursday, would need no such comeback against Presbyterian, as the Runnin' Bulldogs jumped on top 1-0 in the first period off a shot from Meagan Reynolds, her fourth goal of the season. The sophomore from Kings Mountain, N.C. took a pass from Rollyson, then beat her defender and fired a shot from 12 yards out that found its way past PC keeper Sarah Beth Anderson's outstretched arms on the goal's right side to give GWU the early lead.
Gardner-Webb's offense assaulted PC's defensive third throughout the match, constantly pressuring the visiting team with aggressive outlet passes and quick sideline-to-sideline passes to keep the Blue Hose off-guard. GWU manufactured 12 shots in the first period, while the Runnin' Bulldog defense allowed just 3 shot attempts in the first half.
The Runnin' Bulldogs got an insurance goal in the 70th minute off the foot of Megan Curan, who made a nifty move toward the goal after Rollyson's second assist of the day and fired a shot that was too hot to handle for the PC goalkeeper. The freshman's 5th goal of the season made it 2-0 in favor of the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Rollyson pushed the score to 3-0 in the 80th minute, as Reynolds repaid the favor with an assist to the senior who scored from inside the box. Rollyson, who reached double digits on the season in recording her 10th goal of the 2011 season, has scored in each of the Runnin' Bulldogs five wins this year.
GWU got a great defensive effort from its backline defense throughout the game. Sophomore Ele Margelos, switching from forward to defender, played well stepping in for the Runnin' Bulldogs, who also saw great backline plays from freshman Addison Abee and senior Mackenzie Davis.
Gardner-Webb's senior class, consisting of Rollyson, Davis, Megan Tremblay, Stephanie Benshoof, Chelsea Hearne, Tina Frost, and Megan Reimer, were honored before the game in a special ceremony recognizing their contributions to Gardner-Webb women's soccer.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will be back in action on Thursday at 3 pm as GWU travels to take on Charleston Southern in a key Big South match late in the 2011 season. Presbyterian will take on Big South foe Liberty on Thursday at 7 pm.
| Gardner-Webb vs. Presbyterian - Box Score |
