GWU's Second Half Comeback Thwarted in 3-2 Overtime Loss at UNC Asheville on Thursday
October 18, 2012 | Women's Soccer
Asheville, N.C. - A 90th minute goal from UNC Asheville's Kaitlyn Eckert sent the match into overtime, and a Paige Trent goal in the 99th minute further stunned the Runnin' Bulldogs, as Gardner-Webb fell by a 3-2 margin on the road in Big South women's soccer action Thursday.
The last minute Asheville goals negated a comeback effort from a resilient Gardner-Webb squad playing on the road and a goal down at the halftime break.
Gardner-Webb got second half goals from freshmen forwards Nichole Poppe and Shelby Hooe to overcome a 1-0 halftime deficit.
Gardner-Webb (3-12-1, 2-6-1) was put on its heels early, as UNC Asheville (4-12, 2-7) earned an early shot advantage over the visiting Runnin' Bulldogs. A 6th minute save by GWU's sophomore keeper Amy Schmitt (Waxhaw, N.C.) on Asheville's third shot attempt of the day, taken by Kennedy Garrett, kept the score knotted at 0-0 early.
In her first career start, freshman forward Kadesha Otzko (Cape Coral, Fla.) gave the Runnin' Bulldogs a spark, putting a shot on frame in the 9th minute to give the visitors some momentum. Her bid was denied with the first of Bulldog keeper Heather Muller's four first half saves, and the score remained 0-0.
The Asheville offense continued to push the ball forward, pressuring the Runnin' Bulldog defense with a shot on goal by Kaitlyn Eckert (saved by Schmtt) in the 12th minute and a corner kick in the 14th minute, also taken by Eckert. Junior defender Ele Margelos (North Potomac, Md.) helped lead a GWU backline which made it tough for the host Bulldogs to capitalize on its scoring opportunities.
The GWU defense closed out to block an Amadna Knapp shot attempt in the 18th minute, as the Runnin' Bulldogs continued to bend but not break early in the first half.
Shots by freshmen Samantha Gutierrez (Austin, Texas) and Tara Woelfel (Thurmont, Md.) in the 23rd and 24th minutes threatened to break the early scoreless tie, but both were saved by Muller.
After a string of Asheville shots by Ferris Roberts, Eckert, and Knapp pressured GWU's defense, the Runnin' Bulldogs got an offensive opportunity when Gutierrez loosed a shot attempt in the 35th minute. Muller was there for the save, however, keeping the match scoreless.
A 35th minute goal by Asheville's Bria West broke the scoreless tie, pushing the score to 1-0 in the home team's favor.
Down 1-0 coming out of halftime, the Runnin' Bulldogs got aggressive on the offensive end in pursuit of the equalizer.
After two big saves from Schmitt in the 49th and 50th minutes respectively, Gardner-Webb got the equalizer from Nichole Poppe (Youngsville, N.C.) in the 51st minute, who took an assist from sophomore defender Addison Abee (Charlotte, N.C.) to find the back of the net to tie the match at 1-1. The goal marked the third of the season for Poppe, while Abee's assist was her second in as many matches.
The Runnin' Bulldogs wasted no time in pushing for the go-ahead goal, playing off the momentum of the Poppe-Abee connection as Gardner-Webb fought to push the ball forward.
Its efforts were rewarded when Hooe (Mechanicsville, Va.) netted her fourth goal of the season in the 58th minute, taking an assist from junior midfielder Megan Loftin (Kings Mountain, N.C.) to put Gardner-Webb on top 2-1.
The host Bulldogs fought to tie the match up, pressuring Gardner-Webb with shots on goal from Amanda Knapp and Kaitlyn Eckert in the 63rd minute. GWU's Schmitt collected the saves to preserve the one goal lead.
Gardner-Webb's defensive backline, comprised of Abee, Taylor Napoli (Wyomissing, Pa.), Whitley Bowman (Damascus, Md.), and Brooke Kelly (Lawrenceville, Ga.), held Asheville's rally at bay for much of the second half, limiting the host Bulldogs' quality offensive looks.
Woelfel nearly put GWU up 3-1 in the 73rd minute, but her scoring bid was saved by Muller. A shot on frame by Nichole Poppe in the 83rd minute also threatened to increase GWU's lead, but Muller was there for the save to keep the score at 2-1 in favor of Gardner-Webb.
A frantic Asheville rally pushed the ball into Gardner-Webb's defensive zone in the waning minutes of the second half, resulting in shots on goal from Garrett and Eckert in the 88th minute. Schmitt saved both, as Gardner-Webb fought to hold its one goal lead.
After a GWU foul gave Asheville a free kick in the 90th minute, Eckert connected on her 9th goal of the season, stunning the Runnin' Bulldogs in tying the score at 2-2 to send the match in to overtime.
In the first overtime, Gardner-Webb earned a pair of 93rd minute corner kicks, taken by Woelfel, but each was cleared by the Asheville defense.
With the first overtime winding down, the Runnin' Bulldogs nearly got the game winner from Loftin, who put a shot on frame in the 98th minute, just two minutes short of the end of the first overtime period, but Muller collected her 8th save of the match to keep the match tied at 2-2.
Asheville's Paige Trent netted the golden goal in the 99th minute, heading a flick from Kristen Phelps to give the host Bulldogs the 3-2 win.
The match marked the second consecutive overtime contest between the two schools, with the home team winning each. Gardner-Webb came from behind for a 4-3 double overtime win at home against Asheville last season.
Gardner-Webb's resiliency was apparent in its road match versus Asheville, as Thursday marked the first time GWU scored multiple second half goals in Big South play this season.
Offensively, Gardner-Webb was led by Nichole Poppe (1 goal, 3 shots on goal), Shelby Hooe (1 goal, 2 shots), Addison Abee (1 assist), and Megan Loftin (1 assist). Eckert (1 goal, 5 shots on goal) and Paige Trent (1 goal, 4 shots) paced Asheville's offensive effort.
Muller (8 saves) took the win for Asheville, while Schmitt (9 saves) took the loss for the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Gardner-Webb stays on the road this Saturday, October 20, for a road contest with Presbyterian, slated for a 7:00 p.m. start time. UNC Asheville remains at home for a match versus Winthrop this Saturday, October 20, at 2:30 p.m.
| Box Score: UNC Asheville 3 - Gardner-Webb 2 |
