Runnin' Bulldogs Suffer 3-0 Shutout Loss to Davidson on Sunday Night
September 12, 2011 | Men's Soccer
Davidson, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb men's soccer team outshot the Davidson Wildcats for most of the match, yet it was Davidson who found the back of the net, defeating the Runnin' Bulldogs 3-0 in the final match of the Davidson adidas Classic on Sunday night in Davidson, N.C.
The loss drops GWU to 1-2-2 on the year, while the Davidson Wildcats, who are ranked No.8 overall in the NSCAA South Region poll, improve to 2-1-1 overall on the year.
Gardner-Webb controlled the action at the start of the match, as sophomore midfielder Brice Nardozzi put a shot on frame in the fourth minute, making Davidson goalkeeper Chip Sanders make an early save for the Wildcats.
One minute later, in the fifth minute, sophomore forward Chijioke Akujuobi fired a shot that sailed just wide, while less than a minute later Nardozzi's second shot attempt of the match did the same, as the GWU offense continued to put pressure on the Wildcat defense.
Davidson recorded its first shot of the match in the 11th minute, as Gave Rivera put a shot on target which was stopped by GWU goalkeeper Scott Krotee.
The shot was the start of a Davidson offensive barrage, as the Wildcats fired off four more shots over the next 10 minutes of play. While the first two were blocked and the third shot attempt sailed high, the fourth attempt found the mark, as Brian Mcgue took a cross from Hunter Hayes and scored from just inside the six-yard box to put the home team up 1-0 in the 21st minute.
In the 29th minute, GWU freshman Ernesto Gaita tried to retie the score once again, however, his shot attempt missed wide right to keep the score at 1-0 in favor of the Davidson Wildcats.
Over the final 15 minutes of the opening half, the Runnin' Bulldogs outshot the Wildcats 3-0, yet couldn't find the back of the net before the break, leaving the Wildcats in front at 1-0 at the halftime break.
The Runnin' Bulldogs picked up where they left off in the first half, as Marius Hammersmark fired a shot in the 48th minute, only to have Sanders of Davidson make his second save of the match.
Yet again it would be the Davidson Wildcats who would break through once more, as the Wildcats pushed its lead to two on a goal by Allen Page off a corner kick in the 59th minute.
After three GWU shot attempts failed to put the Runnin' Bulldogs on the scoreboard, the Wildcats added another insurance goal in the 78th minute to push its lead out to three at 3-0 with less than 12 minutes to play in the contest.
That is where the score would stand as the final horn sounded, giving the home team the 3-0 non-conference win over the Runnin' Bulldogs.
The Wildcats outshot GWU 12-11 for the match, including placing six shots on frame compared to the Runnin' Bulldogs' three.
Davidson's Sanders picked up the win in goal, recording three saves for the match, while Krotee suffered his first loss of the season despite making three stops of his own over 90 minutes of play.
Hammersmark led the offensive charge for the Runnin' Bulldogs with three shot attempts, putting two on frame, while Nardozzi accounted for two shots for the match.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will return to the pitch next weekend, as GWU will compete at the UAB Soccer for a Cure Classic in Birmingham, Alabama on September 16-18. Gardner-Webb will face off with Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Friday at 5 p.m. central time and will wrap up play on Sunday with a 12 p.m. central time match against Virginia Commonwealth University.
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| Box Score: Davidson 3, Gardner-Webb 0 |
