BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Davidson Wildcats scored in the sixth minute to take the lead over the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs and added an additional goal in the second period, earning the 2-0 victory.

"We battled back and kept them without a ton of chances," said head coach Mike Varga. "We had some attempts at the end and kept fighting until the final whistle. We will regroup and get better on Sunday against Georgia Southern."

After only a few minutes of action, the Wildcats' Michelle Manceaux received a pass from Natalie Cornwell, dribbled towards the center of the box and scorched a shot into the upper 90 to give Davidson the lead.

Alisha Holcombe and Stina Kleppe would take Gardner-Webb's first attempts of the evening in the 9^th and 11^th minutes, but neither player was able to convert.

Keely Brown made her lone save of the first half in the 13^th minute as Davidson recorded only two shots in the opening period.

The Runnin' Bulldogs held a 6-2 advantage in shots over the first 45 minutes, with four shots being on goal. Holcombe, Kleppe, Bailey Hierholzer and Jada Newton all had attempts that were on goal, but the Runnin' Bulldogs could not find the equalizer before the intermission.

In the second period, reigning Big South Conference Attacker of the Week Jada Newton and Kleppe each took shots, but they were both saved by Davidson keeper Mary Grace Bunch. After Kleppe's shot in the 53^rd minute, Gardner-Webb would not record another shot until the 67^th minute when Sam Grove's attempt was wide of the net.

The Wildcats scored their final goal of the contest in the 75^th minute when Alexa Landsberger connected off a corner kick, giving the Cats a 2-0 lead.

The Runnin' Bulldogs have four chances in the final four minutes of action, with two of the shots – one by Kleppe and one by Maddie Turlington – being saved by Bunch.

Gardner-Webb outshot Davidson, 13-8, but the Wildcats held a sizeable advantage in corner kicks, 10-2.

Brown made four saves in goal for the Runnin' Bulldogs in the loss, while Bunch was credited with eight saves and recorded the first clean sheet of her career.

Gardner-Webb drops to 1-2 overall, while the Wildcats picked up their second consecutive win and are now 2-1 overall.

The Runnin' Bulldogs will return to action in just two days, at 1 p.m. on Sunday, August 26 when Georgia Southern visits Boiling Springs.