BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – First half goals by
Ismael Guerrero and
Edin Hernandez were not enough to help Gardner-Webb top the Mercer Bears, as Mercer scored four goals in the final 45 minutes to secure a 4-2 victory
"We came out and were able to attack early and often in the opening period, but just couldn't keep that up in the second half" said head coach
Tony Setzer. "It was nice to score first and hold a lead at the half. We learned some valuable lessons that we'll take into our matches next weekend against George Mason and American."
Ismael Guerrero scored for the first time in 2018 in just the fifth minute of the contest to give Gardner-Webb the early advantage. The senior forward took a pass from
Roman Eddleman in the center of the box and converted.
Four minutes after Guerrero's goal, the Bears spent nearly 15 minutes on their attacking half of the field, but
Grant Glorioso saved three shots to keep Mercer scoreless, while the Bears' two other shots were wide of the goal.
Once the Runnin' Bulldogs were able to take control of the pace, Hernandez netted his first collegiate goal off a pass from
Oskar Wang. Hernadez gave Gardner-Webb a 2-0 lead, which it would take into the intermission as
Glorioso saved Mercer's final two attempts of the period.
In the second, the Bears pulled within one goal in the 57
th minute when Romario Thompson scored off a corner kick. Thompson's goal was assisted by Roberto Arteaga.
Following the goal by the Thompson, the action was relatively quiet until the 63
rd minute when a passing storm made its way through Boiling Springs, sending the match into an extensive weather delay.
After a weather delay of more than 60 minutes, Mercer retook the field firing on all cylinders. The Bears scored three goals in a 12-minute span for the win.
The Bears tied the contest in 74
th minute and officially took the lead five minutes later, before adding an additional goal to their lead in the 87
th minute.
The Runnin' Bulldogs were outshot by Mercer, 8-21, and took only two corners, compared to nine for by the Bears.
In goal, Glorioso made nine saves for GWU.
The loss drops Gardner-Webb to 0-3-1 overall, while Mercer remains undefeated with a 4-0 record.
Next up, the Runnin' Bulldogs will head to Washington, D.C. for matches versus George Mason and American. First up, the 'Dogs will battle the Patriots at 7 p.m. on Friday, September 7.
