KENNESAW, Ga. --- Monique Martin (Tyngsborough, Mass.) tallied three goals and a game-high 10 ground balls, and Amanda Steinmuller (Ellicott, Md.) added three strikes of her own, as Kennesaw State held off a late second-half rally by Gardner-Webb in a 15-8 victory on Tuesday evening.
Kennesaw State (3-6) outshot Gardner-Webb (0-8) by a 32-22 margin in the contest, including a 15-10 advantage in the first half, while scooping up 33 ground balls and converting each of its five clearing attempts. The Runnin' Bulldogs scored a season-high eight goals, scooped up 24 ground balls and converted 5-of-7 clear attempts, while holding Kennesaw State to a 1-for-9 clip on free position shots.
Martin led the way for Gardner-Webb with a season-high three goals, putting 5-of-6 shots on target while scooping up a game-high 10 ground balls and controlling three draws. Steinmuller added three strikes of her own, as Lindsey Lippert (Syracuse, N.Y.) scored two goals and caused three turnovers.
Raygan Hall (Cleveland, Tenn.) made seven saves for the Runnin' Bulldogs, while Steinmuller, Lippert and Destiny Mead (Palm Harbor, Fla.) each controlled three draws. Emma Rose (Weston, Fla.) and Steinmuller both forced two turnovers in the contest.
Sydney Farwick paced the Owls with five goals on eight shots, while controlling four draws and scooping up five ground balls. Haley O'Donogue added three goals and two assists, as Kyra Fitzgerald and Taylor Mcghee each chipped in two strikes. Laura Jordan registered four draw controls, as Victoria Stairs and Monica Albertson tallied six and four ground balls, respectively. Allison Senft made 11 saves between the pipes.
Kennesaw State jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, scoring four goals in the first 10 minutes. Gardner-Webb quickly answered with three straight strikes, trimming the margin to 5-3 on a trio of goals from Steinmuller, with the last one coming with 3:18 left in the first half. A late Mcghee strike pushed the lead to 6-3 for the Owls heading into the break.
The Owls carried the momentum into the second half, stretching the margin to 10-4 on a goal from Mcghee at the 15:32 mark. After Kennesaw State pushed the advantage to 12-5, Gardner-Webb answered with three of the next four goals, cutting the lead to 13-8 following back-to-back strikes from Martin with 4:09 to play. Kennesaw State held on with two late goals, equaling the final margin of 15-8.
Gardner-Webb returns to action on Sunday, March 22 in Williamsburg, Va. when the Runnin' Bulldogs take on William & Mary at 12:00 pm.
