GWU Wins at Coastal Carolina 1-0 in Regular Season Finale, Earns Big South Tournament Bid
October 29, 2011 | Women's Soccer
Conway, S.C. - Gardner-Webb got a first period goal from senior Stephanie Benshoof and held the host Chanticleers scoreless in taking a 1-0 win Saturday afternoon.
With the win, the Runnin' Bulldogs improve to 6-7-2 overall this season. GWU will carry a 4-4-2 Big South record into the conference tournament next week. Coastal Carolina falls to 2-15-2 overall and 2-7-1 in the Big South.
GWU, after going winless in its first five conference matches, rebounded to win four of its final five games to ensure a Big South tournament berth, taking place Nov. 3-6 at Charleston Southern.
Both offenses had difficulty finding open space in the first half, with the two teams combining for just five shots in the opening period. Four of those came from Chanticleers, but GWU's defense led by freshman Addison Abee, senior Tina Frost, and sophomore Erika Lenns kept Coastal Carolina off the board.
GWU broke through on its only shot attempt of the first half, as Benshoof struck a ball off a free kick from 30 yards out that crossed from right to left and found the back of the net past Chanticleer keeper Saundra Baron. The senior from Huntersville, N.C. came off the bench to score her first goal of the season to put the Runnin' Bulldogs on top 1-0.
That would be all Lenns and the Runnin' Bulldog defensive third would need, as the visitors from Boiling Springs kept the Chanticleers from scoring. Lenns was particularly strong in preserving the 1-0 GWU lead, recording a save in the 58th minute on a shot by Coastal Carolina's Chelsea Strange.
Gardner-Webb continued to fight to preserve its lead late in the second half. Lenns made a key save in the 87th minute on a shot by Christina Stern.
In the match, Gardner-Webb was able to make the most of its offensive opportunities, taking three shots in the match, with Benshoof's brilliant goal the only shot on frame.
GWU turns its attention to the Big South Tournament, which will take place Nov. 3-6 at Blackbaud Stadium in Daniel Island, S.C. The tournament will be live-streamed courtesy of the Big South Conference for a small fee.
| Gardner-Webb at Coastal Carolina - Box Score |
