Gardner-Webb to Play at Liberty, at Longwood This Week in Big South Play
October 02, 2012 | Women's Soccer
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.
