BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Junior
Stina Kleppe scored two second half goals to lead the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs past the Campbell Fighting Camels, 2-1, on Saturday evening. The win guarantees Gardner-Webb a host seed for the first round of the upcoming Big South Conference tournament.
Prior to the contest, head coach
Mike Varga, along with assistants
Christina Sarokon and
Lucy Jeffs, honored the team's nine seniors –
Emily Burton,
Maggie Mae Everett,
Erin Shamleffer,
Samuelle Grove,
Callista Eckert,
Brittany DeLoach,
Bailey Hierholzer,
Abbey Smith and
Keely Brown.
"The seniors mean so much to the program, not just on the field, but for what they've done off the field as well," said Varga. "I'm happy that they could make a great memory tonight and come through with a big win. It's exciting to know that we'll host a tournament game here on campus."
In the opening half, Campbell took three shots in the first 17 minutes before
Maddie Turlington attempted Gardner-Webb's first shot. Her look was on goal but was saved by the Fighting Camels' Erin Scott.
The tempo picked up in the final ten minutes of the first half as the two teams combined for six shots – four by the Runnin' Bulldogs and a pair by Campbell.
Gardner-Webb's shots were taken by
Alisha Holcombe, Kleppe and Turlington. Turlington placed one of her attempts on goal, while Kleppe's shot in with less than 15 seconds remaining was stopped by Scott, keeping the game scoreless at the half.
The two teams traded goals early in the second half, with the Fighting Camels striking first, and the 'Dogs netting the equalizer less than 10 minutes later.
In the 55
th minute, after a corner kick, Campbell's Rosie O'Neal headed the ball to McKenna DeGraff, who snuck one past
Keely Brown for the goal. It was the Fighting Camels' lone shot on goal in the match.
Nine minutes later, Kleppe scored her first goal of the contest, taking a pass from
Jana Braun on the right side of the field just outside the 18. Kleppe placed the ball inside the left post for the equalizer, but she was not done yet.
After the 'Dogs fended off four corner kicks by Campbell, Kleppe netted her second goal of the night, this time receiving a pass from Turlington in the box and putting GWU in front, 2-1, with 4:31 remaining.
"Stina has scored some big goals for us," Varga added. "We changed things around at half time and were able to find her in the second half."
The Runnin' Bulldogs' back line held strong over the remaining minutes and did not allow Campbell a shot attempt, as GWU earned the 2-1 win on senior night.
With the victory, the 'Dogs improve to 9-4-4 and 6-1-2 in Big South action. The Fighting Camels fall to 5-10-1 and 4-4-1 in BSC play.
Gardner-Webb outshot the Fighting Camels, 14-7, and limited Campbell to just one shot on goal, while taking seven.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will close out the regular season on Tuesday, October 23 at Hampton. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
