BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Senior Amy Schmitt (Waxhaw, N.C. / Marvin Ridge H.S.) recorded nine saves but the Gardner-Webb University women's soccer team (0-2-0) fell by a count of 1-0 to Jacksonville State (1-1-0) on Sunday afternoon at Greene-Harbison Field.
Meara Johnson stopped all seven shots she faced to pick up her first victory of the season.
Jacksonville outshot the Runnin' Bulldogs by a 6-2 margin, but was unable to find the goal in the opening half, as both teams went into the halftime break locked in a scoreless draw.
Schmitt stood tall to start the second period, as she made three saves in the opening ten minutes to keep the game scoreless.
Jacksonville State would score the go-ahead goal and eventual game-winner in the 56th minute. Kelsey Bright pounced on the ball at the back post off a corner kick, and managed to poke it across the goal line to put the Gamecocks up 1-0.
Gardner-Webb outshot the gamecocks by an 8-7 count in the second half, but were unable to get the ball past Johnson, as they would fall 1-0 in the home opener.
Justine Ibarra (Puyallup, Wash. / Puyallup High School) led Gardner-Webb with three shots on the afternoon.
The Runnin' Bulldogs return to action on Friday (Aug. 29) when they travel to Macon, Ga. to face Mercer University with kickoff set for 6:00 p.m.
