BOILING SPRINGS --- Gardner-Webb led wire-to-wire and set nine new program records – including eight single-game marks – en route to a 17-13 win over Kennesaw State on Wednesday, as seven different Runnin' Bulldogs found the back of the net at Spangler Stadium.
Gardner-Webb (2-5) established single-game team records in goals scored (17), assists (7), points (24), shots (30) and draw controls (17) as the Runnin' Bulldogs secured their second win of the season for the first time in program history. Sophomore Alex Fusco (Marietta, Ga.) accounted for the other three single-game marks, setting new records for goals (6) and shots (8) while tying her single-game tally for points (7).
The Runnin' Bulldogs held an advantage in nearly every statistical category, controlling 17-of-32 draws, converting 10-of-13 clear attempts and edging Kennesaw State (0-5) in ground balls by a 32-29 margin. The Owls outshot Gardner-Webb, 37-30, as the Runnin' Bulldogs recorded 14 saves to Kennesaw State's nine.
Fusco paced the Runnin' Bulldog attack with six goals on eight shots, pushing her season total to 17 strikes while adding an assist and two ground balls. Emma Rufolo (Woodstock, Md.) scored a career-high four goals to go along with five draw controls, four ground balls and one assist, as Austyn Gorski (Lawrenceville, Ga.) and Abby Hanscom (Eden Prairie, Minn.) both tallied two goals.
Sadie Bryant (Charlottesville, Va.), Emma Rose (Weston, Fla.) and Lindsey Lippert (Syracuse, N.Y.) each chipped in a goal, while Bryant dished out two assists to go along with five ground balls and four draw controls. Cassidy McDowell (Cincinnati, Ohio) posted 14 saves and four ground balls. Monique Martin (Tyngsborough, Mass.) caused four turnovers and scooped up five ground balls.
Lucy Mills led the way for Kennesaw State with four goals and three assists, while Syndey Farwick, Olivia Hokanson, Jackie Kisthardt and Connor Zophy each tallied two goals. Zophy dished out two assists for the Owls, while Farwick controlled five draws.
Gardner-Webb stormed out of the gate in the first half, scoring five goals in the opening five minutes to take an early 5-0 lead on Lippert's first tally of the season at the 25:18 mark. Kennesaw State answered with four of the next six goals, trimming the margin to 7-4 through Kisthardt's first strike of the day with 12:04 left on the clock.
The Runnin' Bulldogs would quickly counter with back-to-back strikes from Rose and Rufolo, before the Owls scored twice in the final two minutes of the half to cut the lead to 9-6 heading into the break.
A four-goal outburst from Gardner-Webb kicked off the second half, as the Runnin' Bulldogs opened a seven-goal advantage for the first time in program history after Fusco's fifth strike of the day stretched the lead to 13-6 with 24:54 to play. The Owls climbed back into the game with four goals over the next 10 minutes to close the gap to 14-10 at the 14:34 mark.
Hanscom and Bryant answered with a key tally two minutes later, pushing Gardner-Webb's advantage to 15-10 when Bryant fed Hanscom for her seventh goal of the season with 12:21 to play. Kennesaw State clawed back to within three with a pair of strikes from Zophy and Farwick, which cut the lead to 15-12 at the 9:50 mark.
Rufolo came up with a big goal four minutes later, finishing her perfect shooting day with her fourth goal on her fourth shot to put Gardner-Webb ahead 16-12 with 5:39 left on the clock. Fusco capped the scoring for the Runnin' Bulldogs at the 2:22 mark, tallying her 17th goal of the season to give Gardner-Webb a 17-12 lead and set the program's single-game record with her sixth strike of the afternoon.
Gardner-Webb is back in action next Friday, March 18 when the Runnin' Bulldogs host Mercer in non-conference play at 5:00 pm in Spangler Stadium.
