BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb University women's soccer team (8-8-2, 4-3-2 BSC) got two first half goals from Justine Ibarra and Brandi Arey as it defeated Charleston Southern by a score of 2-1, in its regular-season home finale on Saturday evening at Greene-Harbison Stadium. .
Before the start of tonight's match, Gardner-Webb's five seniors were honored along with their family members on Senior night.
Tonight's victory give the Runnin' Bulldogs four conference wins and keeps them in the running for a top four seed in next week's conference tournament. The top eight seeds advance to the conference tournament with the highest four seeds hosting the quarterfinal matchups.
Krista Chauvin got the win for the Runnin' Bulldogs, as she recorded one save for her seventh victory of the season.
Shelby Hooe paced the GWU attack for much of the evening, as she fired a game-high six shots and three shots on goal. Arey continued to pressure the Buccaneers defense all night long, as she played all 90 minutes, firing a total of five shots in the match.
The first 30 minutes of the opening half featured back and forth action by both teams, but neither team was able to find the back of the net, as the score remained tied at 0.
Ibarra was able to find a crack in the CSU defense, as she received a pass from Jessica Casper and rocketed a shot in the top part of the net for her first goal of the season, to give the Runnin' Bulldogs a 1-0 lead in the 33rd minute.
Gardner-Webb would extend double its lead to 2-0 in the 41st minute, as Brandi Arey took a pass from Ashley Careman and shot it past the CSU goalkeeper for her sixth goal of the season.
Charleston Southern came out of the halftime with an aggressive offensive push and would cut the deficit to just one in the 62nd minute on a goal by Lydia Frierson.
The Buccaneers continued to put pressure on the GWU defense in hopes of tying the game at two, but were unable to find the back of the net, as Gardner-Webb would go on for the 2-1 victory in its regular-season home finale.
Gardner-Webb travels to UNC Asheville on Tuesday evening for its regular-season finale. Kickoff against the Bulldogs is set for 5:00 p.m.
