BOILING SPRINGS --- Emma Rose (Weston, Fla.) and Amanda Steinmuller (Ellicott, Md.) each scored two goals, as Gardner-Webb fell to Mercer by a score of 8-7 in the program's first-ever overtime game on Friday evening at Spangler Stadium.
Gardner-Webb (2-6) set a program record for fewest goals allowed, holding an opponent to single digits for the first time in school history and besting the previous mark of 11 allowed against Presbyterian last season.
The Runnin' Bulldogs edged Mercer (2-5) by a 31-23 margin in ground balls and converted 17-of-19 clearing attempts, while also recording 15 caused turnovers – the second-most in program history. Mercer held a 20-16 advantage in shots, including a 13-6 margin in the first half, and controlled 10-of-16 draws.
Rose and Steinmuller paced the Runnin' Bulldogs with two goals each, as Emma Rufolo (Woodstock, Md.), Sadie Bryant (Charlottesville, Va.) and Abby Hanscom (Eden Prairie, Minn.) all tallied one goal.
Bryant and Rufolo both added an assist, while Cassidy McDowell (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Monique Martin (Tyngsborough, Mass.) each scooped up five ground balls. Bryant chipped in five ground balls as McDowell made seven saves.
Erica Coyne led the way for Mercer with two goals – including the game-winner in overtime – while Lindsey Zeltwanger added one goal and two assists. Katie Brueske scooped up five ground balls as Meghan Segreti recorded a game-high seven draw controls. Haleigh Wurzel stopped seven shots to pick up the win.
Team defense dictated play for much of the evening, with both squads holding the other out of the arc for long stretches and combining to force 24-of-33 total turnovers. Steinmuller opened the evening's scoring four minutes into the game, putting Gardner-Webb ahead 1-0 with her seventh strike of the season.
After Mercer answered with a Haleigh Brooks tally at the 24:36 mark, Bryant scored her sixth goal of the year with 15:21 left in the first half to put GWU back in front 2-1.
The Bears would counter with four straight goals, opening the largest lead of the game for either side when Coyne's strike at the 1:30 mark gave Mercer a 5-2 advantage. Rose responded with a pair of tallies inside the final 30 seconds of the half, scoring on a free position with 27 ticks left before Rufolo found her with a nifty pass to cut the lead to 5-4 with one second on the clock.
Mercer pushed the lead back to two less than a minute into the second half, claiming a 6-4 advantage after Zeltwanger set up Segreti for the strike at the 29:11 mark. Hanscom and Steinmuller answered with back-to-back goals to even the tally at 6-6 after Steinmuller scored her second of the day with 26:37 to play.
Nawal Alami countered for Mercer two and a half minutes later, scoring her fifth of the season to give the Bears a narrow 7-6 advantage at the 23:51 mark. Wurzel came up big for the Bears over the next 20 minutes, making several stellar saves to preserve the one-goal margin until Rufolo knotted the score at 7-7 and forced overtime with her 14th goal of the year at the 3:48 mark.
Mercer immediately took advantage in the extra period, controlling the opening draw and netting the winner when Zeltwanger fed Coyne right in front at the 2:07 mark to give the Bears the 8-7 overtime victory.
Gardner-Webb returns to action next Saturday, March 26 when the Runnin' Bulldogs host Campbell to open Big South Conference play at 1:00 pm in Spangler Stadium.
