Wofford Scores Twice in Second Half, Downs Gardner-Webb 2-1 on Sunday Afternoon
September 08, 2013 | Women's Soccer
Boiling Springs, N.C. - Second-half goals from Wofford's Maureen Buff and Maggie Bosley negated a first half goal from sophomore Shelby Hooe, as Gardner-Webb was unable to hold off a furious Terrier rally in a 2-1 loss Sunday afternoon at Greene-Harbison Field.
GWU (1-3-1) weathered an early Wofford onslaught in the first period of play that saw the Terriers (2-1-1) record eight shot attempts to the Runnin' Bulldogs' zero with 23 minutes left to play in the first half.
The Runnin' Bulldogs countered in the 33rd minute with its first threatening opportunity to score in the first half when Tara Woelfel (Thurmont, Md.) fed Hooe with a well-struck through ball that led the fellow sophomore past the Terrier backline. Hooe side-stepped keeper Kimberly Cohn's press outside the 18 yard box, then sent a dribbler that found the back of the net.
The goal marked Hooe's third of the season, while Woelfel garnered her first assist on the play that gave GWU the lead despite a 10-1 deficit in shots taken at the time.
The Runnin' Bulldogs nearly struck for goal number two of the day, but were unable to cash in on what turned out to be a key opportunity in the 35th minute. Ashley Carmean made an effective run down the left side of the field and attempted to find the foot of Meagan Reynolds inside the box, but Cohn corralled the ball as it passed by the goalpost to quell GWU's scoring bid.
Another great opportunity to push the lead to 2-0 for GWU came late in the first half when Reynolds played a through ball to Hooe, who nearly earned a one v. one opportunity with Cohn. Great closing defense by the Terriers stopped Hooe's run, and a shot from a closing Braddick Price (Huntington, W.Va.) was saved to keep the lead at 1-0 in favor of the Runnin' Bulldogs entering intermission.
Wofford continued to press GWU's defense, which held up despite the shot disparity thanks to great hustle play from Haley Ahrenholtz, Addison Abee, Brooke Kelly, and others. Ahrenholtz gave GWU a great chance to score in the 48th minute of play when she sent a ball from midfield into the box, but it was snagged by Cohn. Woelfel sent a cross in front of the net a minute later, but it was just in front of the right foot of Tori James, as the ball sailed out of bounds harmlessly.
Wofford's aggressive shot-taking was rewarded in the 57th minute when Buff scored her first goal of the season to even the score at 1-1.
With newfound momentum, the Terriers pressured Amy Schmitt (Waxhaw, N.C.) with shots on goal late in the 57th minute and in the 58th minute on shots from Alex Kachulis and Chloe Brackett, but Schmitt saved both as Gardner-Webb fought to hang on against a relentless Terrier offense.
A GWU run that resulted in a header by Hooe in the 60th minute relieved the Runnin' Bulldog defense momentarily, but the attempt sailed high.
Wofford's Faith Lifer earned Bosley a great scoring opportunity with a pass just inside the 18 yard box in the 62nd minute, and Bosley delivered, striking the ball across the goal to the left side to beat a diving Schmitt and put the visiting team on top 2-1.
The Terrier offense was able to keep steady possession on Gardner-Webb's side of the pitch for much of the remaining 28 minutes of play. GWU earned a corner kick in the 88th minute, but Hooe's attempt found no footing, and Wofford would go on to hold its 2-1 advantage and secure its first road win of the 2013 season.
Cohn (2-2-1) earned the win for the visitors, tallying one save. Schmitt (1-3-1) tallied a season-high nine saves in taking the loss for the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Gardner-Webb women's soccer will be back in action on Friday, September 13 at 7:00 p.m. for its first match of the 2013 Under Armour Border Classic. GWU will host Chattanooga in its match on Friday.
| Box Score: Wofford 2, GWU 1 |
