ASHEVILLE, N.C. – After 110 minutes, the final whistle blew in Asheville, N.C. and the match between Gardner-Webb and UNC Asheville ended in a 1-1 draw.

"I give Asheville a lot of credit," said head coach Mike Varga. "They kept working even after giving up the early goal. We made too many unopposed turnovers, and we made the game difficult tonight. We created some chances that we have to put in the back of the net. If we are more composed in front of the goal we can put matches away. Their keeper made a couple big saves, and we walk away with the draw. We have to maintain defensive discipline even when we have the majority of possession. Small lapses cost us tonight."

With the draw, the Runnin' Bulldogs now stand 5-4-3 overall and 2-1-1 in Big South Conference action.  The Bulldogs of Asheville are 1-5-4 and are searching for their first conference win at 0-2-2 in Big South play.

The scoring started early as Gardner-Webb's Jada Newton netted the seventh goal of her freshman campaign just nine minutes into the match. Newton scored off a corner kick, and two Runnin' Bulldogs – Bailey Hierholzer and Samuelle Grove – were credited with an assist.

Over the course of the first half, each team continued to look to pull in front, but to no avail.

Keely Brown saved both of UNC Asheville's attempts on goal, while three Gardner-Webb players – Alisha Holcombe, Stina Kleppe and Aubrie Jackson – had their attempt saved. The three shots on goal for Gardner-Webb came in a four-minute span starting in the 26^th minute.

At the half, the two teams were deadlocked at one with UNCA holding a 6-5 advantage in shots.

In the second period, the Runnin' Bulldogs had four shots on goal.

In the 67^th minute, Emily Jonas attempted back-to-back shots on goal but was unable to give Gardner-Webb a 2-0 lead.

UNC Asheville netted the equalizer 71:05 into the match when Justine James worked her way through the Runnin' Bulldogs' defense and found Maya Gutman who scored from the right side of the box.

Just 10 minutes after the Bulldogs scored, Kleppe and Maddie Turlington took shots just 11 seconds apart, but both were saved by UNCA's Courtney O'Malley.

Gardner-Webb's final shot in regulation came off the foot of Turlington with 2:06 remaining and was wide of the net.

In overtime, the Runnin' Bulldogs controlled possession, outshooting Asheville, 8-1.

Hierholzer nearly ended the contest in the 95^th minute as her shot hit the crossbar, and Newton had a chance to send the 'Dogs back to Boiling Springs with a win, but her attempt in the 98^th minute was saved.

Over the final 10 minutes, Hierholzer had another shot saved, and Newton took GWU's final two attempts of the night but was not successful. Her first shot was high, while her second attempt was blocked.

After 110 minutes, Gardner-Webb and UNCA ended the contest with a 1-1 draw.

The Runnin' Bulldogs outshot the home team by a substantial margin, 21-10, including 11-5 in shots on goal. Newton led Gardner-Webb with four shots, while Grove, Holcombe and Kleppe each attempted three shots.

In goal, Brown made four saves in 110 minutes, while O'Malley stopped 10 shots for UNC Asheville.

Next up, the Runnin' Bulldogs will return home for a 7 p.m. match with Big South opponent Charleston Southern on Saturday, October 6.