BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.- Hunter Frey, Sami Jilla, and Filipe Conceicao each scored two goals to lead the Gardner-Webb men's soccer team to a 7-2 victory in its home-opener over Laurel University on Saturday evening at Greene-Harbison Stadium.
William Liles got the starting nod from head coach Tony Setzer, and the sophomore goalkeeper was solid in net for the 'Dogs recording two saves en route to his first victory of the season.
The Runnin' Bulldogs debuted their new home uniforms during tonight's contest. Offense was generated from both sides during the match, as the two squads combined for 42 shots and 13 corner kicks.
Offensively for GWU, Conceicao led the charge with a game-high six shots and four shots on goal, and Jilla totaled five shots, two of which he put towards the Laurel goal, while Anson Jimenez recorded two shots to lead the Lions.
The Lions got off to a great start as they drew a foul inside the GWU 18-yard box, resulting in a penalty kick. Jimenez was chosen to take the PK for the Lions, and he converted the opportunity to give the Lions a 1-0 lead.
Conceicao tied the game at one for the Dogs in the ninth minute, as he capitalized on a failed clearing attempt by Laurel and shot the ball past Tony Ramirez.
Jimenez once again gave Laurel the lead with a highlight reel goal in the 21st minute off of a free kick. Jimenez drilled a curling free-kick from 35 yards that went into the upper 90 of the net, past a diving Liles.
Just over a minute later, Jilla answered back to tie the game at two for GWU. Jilla dribbled the ball down the left hand side and put a curling shot on net into the right side netting.
Frey and Jilla would score in the 26th and 34th minute respectively as Gardner-Webb held a 4-2 lead heading into the locker room.
Just over a minute into the second half, Jilla dribbed the ball into the box and slotted a pass to Conceicao at the penalty kick stripe, and Conceicao scored the empty net goal for the Dogs fifth goal of the match.
Clay Edwards scored his first career goal off an assist from Isak Reinhardsen and Frey added his second goal of the match to send Gardner-Webb to a 7-2 victory over Laurel.
Gardner-Webb returns to action on Monday when it takes the short trek to Charlotte to face the 49ers at 7:00 p.m.
