BOILING SPRINGS --- Sophomore Alex Fusco (Marietta, Ga.) scored midway through the second half to record her 13th career goal and first of the season, as Virginia Tech outscored Gardner-Webb by a 5-1 margin in the final period en route to an 18-1 win on Sunday afternoon at Spangler Stadium.
Virginia Tech (1-1) took 30 shots compared to eight for Gardner-Webb (0-1) on the afternoon, including a 16-3 advantage in the first half, while edging the Runnin' Bulldogs by a 14-7 margin in draw controls. The Hokies won the ground ball battle, 20-12, and converted 7-of-9 clear attempts as the teams combined for 30 turnovers in the contest.
Fusco paced the Runnin' Bulldogs with one goal on two shots, as Lindsey Lippert (Syracuse, N.Y.) added two attempts of her own. Michelle Hedrick (Orlando, Fla.), Brooke Fernandes (Greensboro, N.C.), Emma Rose (Weston, Fla.) and Cassidy McDowell (Cincinnati, Ohio) each scooped up two ground balls, as McDowell made nine saves in her debut between the sticks.
Fusco, Sadie Bryant (Charlottesville, Va.) and Emma Rufolo (Woodstock, Md.) each recorded a pair of draw controls in the contest. Bryant, Austyn Gorski (Lawrenceville, Ga.) and Abby Hanscom (Eden Prairie, Minn.) all tallied a shot in their collegiate debuts.
Tristan McGinley led the way for Virginia Tech with four goals and three assists, as Gracee Hendrix, Jessi Thon, Meghan Macera, Paige Murray, Zan Biedenharn and Amanda Uliano each scored two goals. Kelly Glatthorn dished out two assists, while Macera and Hannah Sieger posted game-highs of six draw controls and four ground balls, respectively. Sieger stopped five of six shots she faced on the afternoon.
Virginia Tech got off to a strong start early, building a 5-0 lead in the game's first 10 minutes, and taking a 13-0 lead into the break following Hendrix's free position strike with 4:14 left in the first half.
The Hokies would stretch the margin to 16-0 before Fusco got the Runnin' Bulldogs on the board, charging through the middle and beating Sieger low with 11:26 to play. Virginia would add a pair of late strikes to equal the final margin of 18-1.
Gardner-Webb returns to action when the Runnin' Bulldogs travel to Richmond, Va. next Sunday, February 14 to take on first-year program Virginia Commonwealth at 12:00 pm.
