Runnin' Bulldogs Ready for Road Tilt at Troy in Team's Final Non-Conference Match of 2013 Season
September 18, 2013 | Women's Soccer
Boiling Springs, N.C. - Gardner-Webb's women's soccer team will hit the road this week for its final non-conference match of the season this week, traveling to Troy, Ala. to face the Trojans on Friday, September 20.
GWU (2-4-1) will look to regain momentum after suffering a tough 1-0 loss to USC Upstate in the final match of the 2013 Under Armour Border Classic. Despite a sterling effort from junior keeper Amy Schmitt (who recorded six saves in Sunday's match against Upstate), GWU failed to convert on a second-half penalty kick and the Spartans went on to head in the game-winner in the 82nd minute off a corner kick to deny the Runnin' Bulldogs an undefeated record at the Tournament.
On Friday, the Runnin' Bulldogs opened the Classic in resounding fashion on their home turf, pitching a 3-0 shutout of Chattanooga. Sophomore forward Shelby Hooe (Mechanicsville, Va.) was in on each of the three goals, assisting Tori James on the first and knocking in goals off assists from Brandi Arey (Huntersville, N.C.) and Brooke Kelly (Lawrenceville, Ga.) to produce its best offensive output since a 3-0 win over USC Upstate on September 11, 2012.
Hooe has been instrumental in an improved Runnin' Bulldog offense in 2013, having already set season career highs in goals (5), assists (3), and points (13) only seven matches into the season. The speedy forward headlines a GWU attack that has seen eight players register at least one goal or one assist thus far.
Defensively, GWU has flashed the ability to lock down opposing offenses, as well as create offense on its own, at times. Kelly, a sophomore defender, sent a free kick from ten yards inside the midline into the box for Hooe's second goal against Chattanooga, a 3-0 win for the Runnin' Bulldogs. The Runnin' Bulldogs' defense was also put on display in the season opener against North Florida when a steal from newcomer Haley Ahrenholtz (Laramie, Wyo.). and ensuing foul set up a free kick assist for Meagan Reynolds, who helped Hooe score her first goal of the year and the Runnin' Bulldogs battle back for a 1-1 tie of the Ospreys at home.
This Friday, Gardner-Webb sends its improved offense and dynamic defense into the heart of Alabama to face a Troy squad that owns a 2-1 record at home thus far this season. The Trojans (3-5) are coming off a 4-2 win over Murray State in which Abby Reynolds (two goals), Neece Jennings, and Maddie Tieken found the back of the net to fuel a comeback win over the Racers.
Like the Runnin' Bulldogs, the Trojans boast a multi-faceted offensive attack, as seven different Troy players have scored through its eight matches this season. Owning a 1.88 goals scored/game average, the Trojan offense, led by Reynolds (3 goals), Jennings (3 goals), and Cecilia Thorngreen (3 goals), will look to pressure GWU's Schmitt and the Runnin' Bulldog defense on Friday.
Fans can follow all of the action from Gardner-Webb's match at Troy, scheduled for a 4:00 p.m. start on Friday, via live stats and live video, courtesy of troytrojans.com. For access to live stats as well as live video, please visit the links at the top of the page.
