Gardner-Webb Falls in Overtime Heartbreak, 1-0, at Charleston Southern Saturday Night
October 27, 2013 | Women's Soccer
Charleston, S.C. - Charleston Southern's Anna Sells netted the golden goal with just twelve seconds remaining in the first overtime as Gardner-Webb fell in a tight 1-0 match at Charleston Southern on Saturday night.
Sells sent the Bucs home on a high note on Senior Day, ending the match with the game-winning goal at the 99:48 mark off an assist by Chloe Urig. Up to that point, Gardner-Webb's defense had found success in holding CSU (7-10-1, 4-6 Big South) off the scoreboard, but had its hopes of keeping its postseason chances alive dashed when Sells scored in the first overtime.
The Bucs' golden goal came during a first half that saw the Runnin' Bulldogs come out as the aggressor. Megan Loftin got open for a shot attempt in the 91st minute of play, as did Justine Ibarra in the 94th, with both their shot attempts ending up wide of the goal. Gardner-Webb also earned a corner kick in the 95th minute of play, taken by Shelby Hooe, but the Bucs were able to clear the ball away to spark some offense of its own.
CSU's Chelsea Frankeny was the beneficiary of a shift in possession, putting the Runnin' Bulldog defense under pressure when she unleashed a shot attempt in the 96th minute, but her scoring bid went wide.
The Bucs, who produced 26 shot attempts (12 on goal) for the match, were rewarded for their offensive efforts with the 100th minute goal that was instigated by Urig, who had a shot blocked at the 99:36 mark before dishing the ball to Sells for the game-winner.
GWU (3-14-1, 1-9 Big South) created multiple scoring opportunities throughout the match, including three shots on goal from its leading scorer Hooe (Mechanicsville, Va.). After a scoreless first half, Hooe looked to provide a scoring spark in the 52nd minute by testing Buc keeper Caitlin Cody with a shot on frame, but Cody made the play to keep the score knotted at 0-0.
The speedy sophomore also got loose in the 80th minute, as Hooe weaved her way through the Buccaneer defense to fire a shot on frame, but Cody made one of her six saves for the match to keep the Runnin' Bulldogs off the board.
Cody was asked to step up for her sixth save of the match in the 84th minute when Ele Margelos (North Potomac, Md.) put a header on frame. The Buc keeper handled Margelos' shot attempt.
Runnin' Bulldog keeper Amy Schmitt (Waxhaw, N.C.) was solid in goal Saturday night, tallying eleven saves including two in the last few minutes of the second half off of shots on goal from Sells and Toni Lashley.
For the match, CSU earned a 26-15 advantage in shots taken, as well as an 11-6 edge in shots on goal, while the two squads shared the lead in corner kicks with five apiece.
Offensively, GWU was led by Hooe's five shots (three on goal). Loftin added three shot attempts for the Runnin' Bulldogs and both Margelos and Justine Ibarra (Puyallup, Wash.) posted two shot attempts (one on goal) for the match.
Gardner-Webb is scheduled to host UNC Asheville on Tuesday, October 29 at 7:00 p.m. in what will be the Runnin' Bulldogs' final home match of the 2013 season.
