GWU Accounts for Two Goals in the First Half in 2-1 Win at Presbyterian College
October 06, 2011 | Men's Soccer
Clinton, S.C. - Wednesday night was a night of firsts for the Gardner-Webb men's soccer team, as the Runnin' Bulldogs posted their first Big South Conference win and their first true road match win of the season in the 2-1 win over the Presbyterian College Blue Hose at Martin Stadium in Clinton, S.C.
Gardner-Webb, which outshot the Blue Hose 20-6 for the match, posted both of their goals in the first 25 minutes of play en route to the 2-1 win.
The win snaps the Runnin' Bulldogs losing streak at four and pushes GWU to 4-6-2 overall and 1-2 in the Big South on the year, while the loss drops the Blue Hose to 1-9 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
Looking to put an end to their current four-match losing streak and pick up their first Big South Conference win of the season, the Runnin' Bulldogs struck first, taking an early 1-0 lead in the opening minutes of the match.
GWU freshmen duo of defender Eric Yeager and forward Denzel Clarke played a cross to the far side of the box where fellow newcomer Jonas Nader received the pass and fired, putting the ball into the left side of the net in the third minute of the match for his first goal of the season and the first goal of the contest.
Over the next five minutes of play, the Runnin' Bulldogs continued to put pressure on the PC defense, recording five more shots with the Blue Hose goalkeeper Ethan Watson making two stops in the process.
Gardner-Webb took advantage of a Blue Hose foul in the box by Watson, who tackled Clarke in the box at the 21 minute mark of the opening half. Sophomore forward Chris Davis made good on the penalty kick, putting the shot past the diving Watson and into the right side of the net to give the Runnin' Bulldogs a 2-0 lead.
The goal was Davis' fourth of the season, which leads the team for the year.
The Runnin' Bulldogs continued to control the ball and the pace of the match for the remainder of the first half, as GWU outshot the Blue Hose 6-2 over the final 24 minutes of the opening frame, as PC's best scoring opportunity was blocked by a GWU defender in the 28th minute.
With the 2-0 halftime lead, the Runnin' Bulldogs looked to add an insurance goal early in the second half, as Davis missed wide right in the 51st minute.
Presbyterian College's Jared Mitchell had a chance to put the Blue Hose on the scoreboard in the 61st minute, as the forward got behind the GWU defense and blasted a shot only to watch it sail high and over the goal to give the Runnin' Bulldogs a goal kick.
The Runnin' Bulldogs recorded three more shots over the next 20 minutes of play, yet it would be the Blue Hose who would find the back of the net next, as in the 83rd minute Luke Ade scored from the right side of the box to cut the GWU lead to one at 2-1.
The Runnin' Bulldogs looked to get the goal right back, as Davis lined a shot toward the goal in the 84th minute which sailed high, while Nader looked for his second goal of the match in the 86th minute which was on target but punched away by Watson in goal for PC to keep the score at 2-1 in favor of GWU with less than five minutes to go in regulation.
PC was able to get one more shot off in the 88th minute, only to have GWU defender Jovan Ivanovich block the shot and help goalkeeper Scott Krotee and the Runnin' Bulldogs secure the 2-1 road conference win.
Nader's goal was his first career goal as a Runnin' Bulldog, while the double assist was the first in the career for both Clarke and Yeager.
GWU's Krotee recorded the win in goal for GWU, despite not recording a save in 90 minutes of play, while PC's Watson made five saves in the loss.
Gardner-Webb (4-6-2, 1-2 Big South) will return to the pitch this Saturday, as the Runnin' Bulldogs will return home for the first time since their season opening 3-0 win over Brevard College back on August 28th. The Runnin' Bulldogs will host the Liberty Flames at 4 p.m. at Greene-Harbison Field.
Presbyterian College (1-9, 1-1 Big South) will also return to action this Saturday afternoon, as the Blue Hose will host Campbell at 2 p.m. in Clinton, S.C.
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| Box Score: Gardner-Webb 2, Presbyterian College 1 |
