Gardner-Webb Women's Soccer Falls to Presbyterian on the Road Saturday Night
October 21, 2012 | Women's Soccer
Clinton, S.C. - The Runnin' Bulldogs were unable to overcome a 1-0 halftime deficit, falling on the road versus Big South foe Presbyterian by a 3-0 margin on Saturday night.
Gardner-Webb (3-13-1, 2-7-1) looked to get off to a fast start, pressuring the defensive backline of Presbyterian (3-14, 3-7) with scoring opportunities early in the first half.
Speedy freshman forward Shelby Hooe (Mechanicsville, Va.) got loose in the 3rd minute, but her shot attempt went wide left of the goal. Fellow freshman forward Nichole Poppe (Youngsville, N.C.) found space to take a shot in the 5th minute, but her attempt went wide right as the Blue Hose weathered an early offensive effort by the Runnin' Bulldogs.
The host Blue Hose responded by mounting offensive opportunities of their own, pressuring GWU's defense after the early offensive effort by Gardner-Webb. A shot taken by Presbyterian's Tori Lopez was put on frame, but sophomore Runnin' Bulldog keeper Amy Schmitt (Waxhaw, N.C.) was there for the save.
After the Blue Hose took their third corner kick of the match in the 20th minute, another Lopez shot threatened 0-0 score, but it went wide left of the goal.
Gardner-Webb earned a scoring opportunity of its own in the 29th minute off the foot of sophomore midfielder Megan Curan (Mooresville, N.C.), but Blue Hose keeper Sydney Fontenot collected the save to keep the Runnin' Bulldogs from jumping on top on the road.
Presbyterian mounted another offensive streak. Presbyterian's Sophie Cobb put her corner kick attempt in close, but the ensuing Christy Schofer shot attempt was saved by Schmitt in the 33rd minute. Schmitt also saved a Kelly Kozera shot in the 34th minute to keep Gardner-Webb in a tie game.
The Blue Hose capitalized in the 42nd minute when Sara Simpson headed in a goal off a corner kick to put Gardner-Webb in a 1-0 hole at the end of the first half.
Presbyterian stayed on the offensive coming out of the break, having a shot by Rebecca Miller blocked by a hustling Runnin' Bulldog defense in the 48th minute. After earning a corner kick in the 49th minute, Catie Smith put Presbyterian up 2-0 when she poked the ball into the back of the net.
Gardner-Webb pushed the ball forward to try to get a goal back, getting a tough break when Hooe's shot attempt in the 54th minute hit the crossbar. Redshirt junior Karyn Latorre (Bogota, Colombia) found space immediately after, firing a shot on frame only to have it saved by Fontenot.
Senior Sarah Morabito (Irmo, S.C.) gave the Runnin' Bulldogs an opportunity to score in the 61st minute, but her attempt was saved by Fontenot. Hooe found space in the Presbyterian defensive zone, but her shot attempt on goal was saved by Fontenot to keep the Runnin' Bulldogs down 2-0.
Presbyterian added to their lead in the 69th minute on a Tori Lopez goal, putting the Blue Hose up 3-0.
Gardner-Webb continued to fight for goal-scoring opportunities. Freshman Samantha Gutierrez (Austin, Texas) recorded a shot on goal in the 69th minute, but Fontenot was again there for the save. Junior Megan Loftin (Kings Mountain, N.C.) had a 74th minute shot attempt go wide right, and one in the 83rd minute blocked as GWU was unable to cut into Presbyterian's lead.
Schmitt (3 saves) took the loss for Gardner-Webb, with Fontenot (5 saves) collecting the win for Presbyterian.
Gardner-Webb will return to the soccer pitch for its final regular season game on Thursday, October 25 for a match at Winthrop in Rock Hill, S.C.
| Box Score: Presbyterian 3 - Gardner-Webb 0 |
