BOONE, N.C. – After tying the contest late in the second half, Gardner-Webb lost a 4-3 heartbreaker in the final seconds to the Appalachian State Mountaineers, on Sunday afternoon.
"That was a tough match to lose the way we did," said head coach
Mike Varga. "There wasn't a lot of possession either way, and we could folded after we went down 3-1, but we battled back to even the score. We showed a lot of grit today. Appalachian State is tough to play at their place on this surface, and it took us awhile to figure out how to play, but I thought were better as the game went on. Tough match, tough result. Now, it's one to the next match versus EKU at home."
Appalachian State found itself in front just 2:04 into the contest when Ava Dawson headed one into the net past
Keely Brown following a corner a kick.
Although a goal came quickly, there would not be another shot until the 19
th minute when the Mountaineers' attempt ended up wide of the goal. Brown would make back-to-back saves in less than 20 seconds in the 28
th minute, keeping App State's lead at a single goal.
Less than three minutes after two shots on goal by the Mountaineers, the Runnin' Bulldogs'
Stina Kleppe found the equalizer. Kleppe's second goal of the season came off a penalty kick.
At the half, the two teams were knotted at one goal each, as Brown saved Appalachian State's final two attempts on goal in the 37
th and 38
th minutes.
Both teams came out firing in the second, taking two shots each in the first 10 minutes, and the Mountaineers struck first, pulling ahead by a 2-1 score in the 54
th minute.
Kleppe looked for her second goal of the contest in the 64
th minute, but the shot was saved, and Appalachian State extended its lead to two goals, 3-1, in 70
th minute.
Trailing with under 20 minutes remaining, the Runnin' Bulldogs put together a furious rally, starting in the 72
nd minute.
Maddie Turlington slipped a pass to fellow freshman
Jada Newton who was positioned in the box and netted her fourth goal of the year, cutting Gardner-Webb's deficit to a single goal.
In the 80
th minute,
Kylie Ameres had her shot blocked, but no more than 75 seconds after the fact, Sam Grove scored her first goal the season, converting off a breakaway with Turlington alongside her.
Grove tied the contest, but it was heartbreak in the final seconds for GWU.
With just 1:45 left on the clock, the Mountaineers' Maggie Hanusek scored on a penalty kick, ultimately giving Appalachian State the 4-3 victory.
The 'Dogs managed 10 shots in the match, led by Grove with three. All three of the senior forward's shots were on goal. The Mountaineers attempted 13 shots, with all but three being on goal.
For Gardner-Webb, Brown made six saves in 72:25 of action. Freshman
Katelyn Kellogg played the final 17:35 in relief. Appalachian State's Lauren Burke saved three shots.
The loss drops the Runnin' Bulldogs to 2-3-1, while the Mountaineers improve to 3-2-1.
Gardner-Webb will play two consecutive home games next weekend, beginning with a 7 p.m. tilt with EKU on Friday, September 7.
