GREENVILLE, S.C. --- Amanda Steinmuller (Ellicott, Md.) scored two goals and added one assist to lead the way for Gardner-Webb, as Furman tallied six early strikes en route to a 15-4 victory on Friday evening in non-conference play.
The game proved to be a tale of two halves, with Furman (2-0) controlling play for much of the first 30 minutes and Gardner-Webb (0-2) dictating the balance of the second half. Gardner-Webb held a 12-7 advantage in shots in the final period, as Furman outshot the Runnin' Bulldogs, 20-3, in the opening half.
Steinmuller paced the Runnin' Bulldogs with two goals, one assist and six shots, including four attempts on goal. Emma Rose (Weston, Fla.) and Monique Martin (Tyngsborough, Mass.) each added a goal of their own, while Bryn Hubbard (Annapolis, Md.) notched an assist.
Alanna Costigan (Clifton Park, N.Y.) recorded a game-high five grounds balls, as Lindsey Lippert (Syracuse, N.Y.) caused five turnovers while also controlling four draws and scooping up four ground balls. Raygan Hall (Cleveland, Tenn.) made eight saves between the pipes for Gardner-Webb.
Devon Horine led the way for Furman with five goals and one assists, accounting for six points, as Britt Douglass added a hat trick. Kristine Knowles and Ashley Trice each tallied two goals, while Knowles and Paige Gamble posted three and two assists, respectively. Samantha Eckels accounted for five draw controls and four ground balls while causing three turnovers.
Furman got off to a strong start in the first half, scoring six goals in the opening seven minutes to take an early 6-0 lead. The Paladins would add four strikes over the next 13 minutes, stretching the advantage to 10-0 at the 10:38 mark. Gardner-Webb got on the board just over a minute later, when Hubbard fed Martin with a nifty pass and Martin side armed the shot past the goalie for her first career strike.
The Paladins struck three times late in the first half, pushing the advantage to 13-1 heading into the break.
Gardner-Webb controlled much of the tempo in the second half, winning the draw control battle by a 5-1 margin while outscoring the Paladins, 3-2. Neither team would find the back of the net until the 12:07 mark, when Steinmuller tallied her first of the day with a one-hopper past the goalie.
Furman countered three minutes later, stretching the margin to 14-2 before Gardner-Webb answered with a pair of goals, cutting the advantage to 14-4 on strikes by Rose and Steinmuller at the 7:54 and 3:54 marks, respectively. The Paladins scored with 2:18 left to equal the final margin of 15-4.
Gardner-Webb is back in action on Friday, February 27 when the Runnin' Bulldogs host Fresno State at 3:00 pm at Spangler Stadium.
