Second Half Fells Gardner-Webb in 3-0 Loss Versus Longwood on Saturday
October 12, 2013 | Women's Soccer
Boiling Springs, N.C. - Longwood forward Kelsey Pardue netted two of the Lancers' three second half goals, and Gardner-Webb was unable to earn momentum at home and fell, 3-0, on Saturday afternoon at Greene-Harbison Field.
GWU (3-10-1, 1-5 Big South) fell victim to three second half scores from Longwood (6-6-2, 5-1 Big South), who broke through quickly after the break thanks in large part due to Pardue's effectiveness playing forward in earning the squad's fifth Big South win of the 2013 campaign.
Pardue struck quickly after a scoreless first half that saw the Lancers outshoot the Runnin' Bulldogs 13-4, finding an assist from Kelsey McDonald to score on a tip-in that scooted just past the outstretched arms of GWU keeper Amy Schmitt and give the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 48th minute.
Gardner-Webb looked to play the ball forward, but was thwarted throughout the afternoon by a solid Longwood defense headlined by defenders Kelsey McDonald and Meghan Magee, who played all 90 minutes in a shutout effort.
In the first half, senior Ele Margelos (North Potomac, Md.) nearly put Gardner-Webb on top before the break in what was Gardner-Webb's most threatening offensive opportunity posed by Runnin' Bulldogs. Margelos, standing in front of the net from 10 yards out, tapped a ball played forward by freshman Brandi Arey (Huntersville, N.C.) toward the left side of the frame, but a diving one-handed deflection by Lancer keeper Shelby Hall kept the score knotted at 0-0.
Longwood's disciplined offensive effort helped the Lancers maintain possession going forward, and after Pardue scored to make the match 1-0, Samantha Phillips netted her second goal of the season off a nifty assist from recent substitute Rebecca Soares to give Longwood a 2-0 lead.
Gardner-Webb redshirt junior Meagan Reynolds (Kings Mountain, N.C.) and the Runnin' Bulldog offense worked frantically to push the ball forward in hopes of cutting into the Lancers' two goal lead. Reynolds registered two shot attempts of the day, but a fast-closing Longwood defense negated GWU's offensive looks late in the match.
Pardue tacked on her second goal of the day, being fed by Christina Corbin for a one v. one opportunity with Schmitt and burying it into the back of the net from five yards out to provide the final scoring margin.
Reynolds and freshman Justine Ibarra (Puyallup, Wash.) paced GWU with two shots, including one shot on goal from Ibarra. Pardue scored twice on nine shot attempts to lead the Lancers offensively.
Lonwood's Hall earned the win, improving to 6-6-2 on the year while tallying two saves on the day. Schmitt (Waxhaw, N.C.) registered six saves in taking the loss for the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Gardner-Webb is scheduled to hit the road on Wednesday, October 16 for a match at Radford. The Runnin' Bulldogs' road tilt versus the Highlanders is slated for a 7:00 p.m. start time.
| Box Score: Longwood 3, GWU 0 |
