Boiling Springs, N.C. - Gardner-Webb's women's soccer team will
hit the road for a pair of Big South road tilts this week, taking
on Liberty on Thursday, October 4 at 7:00 p.m. and Longwood on
Saturday, October 6 at 4:00 p.m.
GWU (2-9, 1-3) is coming off a tough 2-1 double overtime road
loss to High Point and will look to bounce back and improve its
standing in the Big South Conference team rankings.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will take on a Liberty team that leads the
Big South with six shutouts posted this season. The Flames (8-5,
2-2) are tied for fifth in the Big South standings and are led by
Jaime Bouffard's four goals scored thus far, tying for sixth best
in the conference. Flames keeper Karen Blocker has logged the most
minutes of any goalkeeper in the Big South yet still leads the
conference in Goals Against Average (.85 per game).
On Saturday, GWU takes on Big South newcomer Longwood (8-4,
3-1). The Lancers sit alone in third in the Big South standings,
and put forth a balanced attack that will challenge the Runnin'
Bulldogs offensively and defensively. Longwood's keeper, Kyra
Byron, is third in the Big South in Goals Against Average (1.03)
and will challenge forwards Shelby Hooe (Mechanicsville, Va.), Tara Woelfel (Thurmont, Md.), Nichole Poppe (Youngsville, N.C.) and the rest of the
GWU offense.
Head coach Kevin Mounce will continue to look to his young
offensive players for continued improvement. Fueled by better play
up front, Gardner-Webb has now scored in four consecutive matches
after going scoreless in its first four contests to open the 2012
season.
The Runnin' Bulldogs have gotten goals from five different
players, with all but one in her first year of collegiate soccer.
Freshmen Samantha Gutierrez (Austin, Texas), Ashley Carmean (Ashburn, Va.), Hooe, and Nichole Poppe have found the back of the net, as has
junior Megan Loftin (Kings Mountain, N.C.).
Sophomore keeper Amy Schmitt (Waxhaw, N.C.) will look to continue her
improved play in goal in her first season starting in goal as a
Runnin' Bulldog. Schmitt, whose saves total (69) ranks third in the
Big South, solidifies a defense led by sophomore defender Addison Abee (Charlotte, N.C.) and junior outside
back Ele Margelos (North Potomac, Md.). Freshmen Brooke Kelly (Lawrenceville, Ga., 11 starts), Whitley Bowman (Damascus, Md., 8 starts), and Brianna Fraire (Clemmons, N.C.) have also given the
Runnin' Bulldogs valuable minutes this season.
Thursday's match at Liberty is set to begin at 7:00 p.m., and
Saturday's match at Longwood is set for a 4:00 p.m. start time.
