Men's Soccer to Open Up Conference Play at Coastal Carolina on Friday Night; Will Face Off with UNC Greensboro on Saturday Night
September 21, 2011 | Men's Soccer
Boiling Springs, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb men's soccer team will play back-to-back road matches this weekend, as the Runnin' Bulldogs will take on Coastal Carolina on Friday night and then will turn around to do battle with UNC Greensboro on Saturday night in non-conference play.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (3-2-2) are coming off a weekend of play, in which GWU recorded back-to-back wins over Milwaukee and No. 20 VCU at the UAB "Soccer For A Cure" Classic.
Junior midfielder John Sargent, who scored both game-winning goals last week, was named the Big South Choice Hotels Co-Attacking Player of the Week and also earned a spot on the all-tournament team alongside of fellow teammates Jon Ole Reinhardsen and Scott Krotee.
After only scoring two goals in their previous four matches, in which GWU went 0-2-2, the Runnin' Bulldogs accumulated three goals overall in their last two matches, both of which were wins.
Gardner-Webb will open up conference play on Friday night, as the Runnin' Bulldogs will take on Coastal Carolina at 6 p.m. in Conway, S.C.
The Chanticleers (5-2) are currently ranked No. 6 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) South Atlantic Region and No. 25 in the SoccerAmerica national poll. Coastal Carolina is also receiving votes in both the NSCAA and CollegeSoccerNews.com national polls.
Coastal Carolina, who is 3-2 at home this season, have outscored its opponents 19-5 on the year and have posted wins against Richmond, No. 16 VCU and No. 21 Ohio State.
Coastal is currently ranked fourth in the NCAA in total goals with 19, while forward Ashton Bennett ranks sixth in the nation with six total goals, including two against No. 21 Ohio State. Goalkeeper Scott Angevine leads the conference in save percentage (.818) and is tied for first with two shutouts.
Gardner-Webb is only 1-3-1 all-time versus the Chanticleers and will look to snap a current three match losing streak, which includes a 1-0 loss last year in the semifinals of the 2010 Big South Men's Soccer Championships.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will not have long to rest, as only 24 hours later, head coach Tony Setzer's squad will return to the pitch to take on the UNC Greensboro Spartans at 7 p.m. in Greensboro, N.C.
The Spartans, who suffered a 2-0 loss on Tuesday night to William & Mary, are 2-4 on the year with wins over Duke and North Florida. While the Spartans have been in every match for most of the season, UNC Greensboro has been outscored 8-4 on the year.
Gardner-Webb will not only be searching for their first ever win over the Spartans, who hold a 2-0 advantage in the overall series over the Runnin' Bulldogs, but GWU will also be looking for their first win over a Southern Conference foe this season having going 0-2-2 in their previous four bouts versus the SoCon.
Friday night's Big South Conference opener is slated to be video streamed over the Big South Network, presented by State Farm, and can be viewed for a small fee by going to www.bigsouthsports.com. Live stats will also be available at www.goccusports.com or on the men's soccer schedule page at www.gwusports.com.
On Saturday night, the game is scheduled to be video streamed by the UNC Greensboro Athletics Department and can be viewed for a small fee at http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/uncg.portal#. Live states will also be available at http://livestats.prestosports.com/uncg/ or on the men's soccer schedule page at www.gwusports.com.
To view the complete week five men's soccer weekly notes click on the attached pdf or go to the weekly notes link on the top menu of the men's soccer home page.
###
| Week Five Men's Soccer Weekly Notes |
