LYNCHBURG, Va.- Tara Woelfel's goal in the 28th minute lifted the Garder-Webb women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory at Liberty in a Big South Conference match on Saturday afternoon at Osborne Stadium.
With the victory, Gardner-Webb improves to 5-8-3 overall on the season and moves to 2-4-1 against Big South Conference opponents, while Liberty falls to 7-7-1 and 5-2 in league play.
"Great team win today. We defended well and made Tara's (Woelfel) incredible free kick hold up. We have been close in a lot of tight games," commented Gardner-Webb head coach Mike Varga. "I am very proud of the team for hanging in there and giving the effort they did today."
The Flames lost for just the second time in league play, as the entered Saturday's matchup in first place in the Big South standings with a 5-1 record. Saturday's victory marked the first time the Dogs defeated the Flames in Lynchburg.
"Now the focus is on our next match and maintaining what it takes to be successful in conference play."
Keely Brown was huge in net for the Runnin' Bulldogs, making five key saves to earn her fifth victory of the season and also the fifth shutout of her career.
The Flames were on the offensive attack for the much of the afternoon totaling 19 shots and mustered 12 corner kicks, but were not able to get a shot past Brown. For the first time all season, Gardner-Webb did not have one corner kick for the match and entered the game with 25 more corner kick attempts than its opponents.
Alyssa Hill led the way for the Flames with seven shot attempts for the match and Devon Jones added three attempts, while Woelfel paced the GWU attack with three shots and two shots on goal.
Liberty started the game off quickly firing two shots on goal in the first five minutes, but Brown stopped both attempts to keep the game scoreless.
Gardner-Webb went on the attack just over midway through the first half and were fouled by the Flames, resulting in a free-kick opportunity for the Dogs. Woelfel took the free-kick for GWU and curled one into the left side of the net to give GWU the 1-0 lead.
The Dogs continued to hold the lead and headed into the halftime break leading 1-0.
Liberty outshot Gardner-Webb 12-4 in the second half and managed seven corner kicks, but the Runnin' Bulldogs did not allow a goal and would hold on for the 1-0 victory.
The Runnin' Bulldogs return to Greene-Harbison Stadium for their next match Wednesday evening, when they entertain Presbyterian at 7:00 p.m.
