BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb lost a heartbreaker Sunday afternoon to East Carolina, falling 15-14 in sudden death overtime at Ernest W. Spangler Stadium.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (1-2) and Pirates (1-2) engaged in a back-and-forth battle throughout the day, with the largest lead on either side never reaching more than two goals. 

After East Carolina surged in front by an 11-9 score with 13:57 left, Gardner-Webb responded to tie. Hailey Maranto fed Lauren Deaver for a goal with 11:51 left and Talen Francis got free for a goal with 11:10 left to tie the score.

East Carolina responded with 8:47 to play with a goal from Nicole Legar off a rebound, but Gardner-Webb tied the score again on Francis shot with 6:59 left off a free position.

Legar took a feed from Emma Bowman for a go-ahead goal with 3:42 left, but Francis knotted the score once again with 2:38 on the clock – going end-to-end for the finish and a 13-13 score. Gardner-Webb would surge in front for the first time in the second half moments later, as Amanda Steinmuller fought for a key draw control and Francis got off a pass to Em Dyment with 1:58 left to give the Runnin' Bulldogs a 14-13 lead.

After an East Carolina timeout, the Pirates controlled the ensuing draw and – after a scramble in front of the goal after a pair of saves by Katie Sylvester, Mackell Shultes picked up a ground ball and scored off the rebound with just 50 seconds on the clock to the the score.

Gardner-Webb was able to get control after a turnover near midfield, however, but Abby Hanscom's shot with six seconds left was high – sending the game into sudden death overtime.

East Carolina controlled the opening draw in overtime, and Megan Pallozzi took advantage of a one-on-one matchup on a drive – finishing the game with a shot just 40 seconds into sudden death.

Gardner-Webb surged to an early 2-1 lead, but both teams were bitten by turnovers in the first half as East Carolina eased ahead by a 5-4 score at the break.

Francis led Gardner-Webb with a career-high six goals and an assist, as the Runnin' Bulldogs put 26 of their 31 shots on goal. GWU also had an edge in draw controls (18-13), but were just 5-of-13 on free position shots for the afternoon.

The Runnin' Bulldogs did cause 12 of East Carolina's 17 turnovers, which led to several transition chances on the day. In addition to Francis, Gardner-Webb got three goals and an assist from Steinmuller.

Eilish Gately, Maranto, Hanscom, Dyment and Deaver also found the back of the net once for Gardner-Webb. Maranto added an assist. Maddie Martin and Steinmuller each had four ground balls to lead GWU in that category, with Steinmuller also posting eight draw controls. Martin also had five draw controls and three caused turnovers.

East Carolina was paced by Pallozzi's four goals, five draw controls and three ground balls. Legar had three goals, while Casey Sullivan had two goals and two assists. Schultes also had a pair of goals for the Pirates.

Gardner-Webb will be back in action on Friday, March 2 in Ernest W. Spangler Stadium. The Runnin' Bulldogs host Mercer at 6:00 pm on The Big South Network (bigsouthsports.com) in the third game of a four-game home stand.