BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.- Samuelle Grove's goal in the 50th minute lifted the Gardner-Webb women's soccer team to a 1-1 draw against Presbyterian in a Big South Conference match Wednesday evening at Greene-Harbison Stadium.
With the draw, Gardner-Webb's record is now 5-8-4 overall and 2-4-2 in Big South Play, while PC moves to 6-9-1 and 2-5-1 in the conference standings. Wednesday's match was important for both teams regarding positioning for the conference playoff. The top eight teams secure a spot in the Big South Tournament and PC entered the match in 10th place, while Gardner-Webb was tied with Winthrop for the eighth and final position in the Big South standings.
This was the sixth time this season that the Runnin' Bulldogs have played in an overtime match this season, including the fifth on its home field.
Offensively, Gardner-Webb outshot the Blue Hose 22-13 and held a 7-2 advantage in corner kicks on the evening. Tara Woelfel and Shelby Hooe each led the charge for GWU recording a game-high five shots, while Sophire Cobb also had five attempts to pace the PC attack.
Keely Brown got the start in net for GWU and recorded six saves, while Sydney Fontenot stopped five attempts from the Runnin' Bulldogs to earn the tie for PC.
Presbyterian took a 1-0 lead early in the first half. Hannah Gaither received a pass from Stephanie Lee and attempted a curling shot on net from long distance, that went over Brown's head and into the side netting.
The Runnin' Bulldogs held a 7-4 advavantagye in shot attempts in the first half of play, but could not manage a shot past Fontenot and the Blue Hose held the one goal lead at halftime.
Gardner-Webb came out in the second half with much more aggression and created multiple scoring opportunities, but Fontenot came up with a huge save in the 49th minute to keep GWU off the board.
In the 50th minute, Brandi Arey dribbled the ball down the field and passed the ball around a defender to Sam Grove, and the freshman scored on a curling shot from just outside the box.
PC had six shots in the second half compared to 10 for GWU, but the game would remain tied heading into OT.
It was all GWU in the first OT as the Runnin' Bulldogs had five shots, two of which they put on goal, but ultimately neither team could score a game-winner and the match would end in a 1-1 draw.
Gardner-Webb takes to the road for its final road match of the season Saturday, when it faces Charleston Southern at 2:00 p.m.
