ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs women's soccer team saw its two-match winning streak snapped by the Winthrop Eagles on Wednesday night, as the Eagles earned a 1-0 victory.

"I don't like the way we started tonight," said head coach Mike Varga. "I felt like our movement off the ball was not as quick as it needed to be win a conference match on the road."

Winthrop spent time on its attacking third of the field early in the match, taking four shots in the first 11 minutes, but only one was on goal, and it was nabbed by Keely Brown.

Stina Kleppe took Gardner-Webb's first shot of the match in the 13^th minute, but the Eagles took control of the ball and threatened three minutes later.

In the 16^th minute, the Eagles' Gabi Hull put a shot on goal from 18 yards out, but it was no match for Brown, the reigning Big South Conference Defender of the Week, who made a diving stop to her left to keep the Eagles off the scoreboard.

Once again, the game alternated possession, with the Runnin' Bulldogs threatening to break the scoreless tie.

Led by Kleppe, Gardner-Webb earned two corner kicks and had two shots in a six-minute span. Erin Shamleffer's shot in the 23^rd minute was GWU's first shot on goal but was unsuccessful.

Over the remainder of the first half, the Runnin' Bulldogs would attempt four more shots – two by Maddie Turlington and one each by Kleppe and Aubrie Jackson – but the four were either blocked or high of the net.

Brown did her part to keep the game scoreless at the half, saving the Eagles' final shot on goal in the 36^th minute.

In the first 20 minutes of the second half, the two keepers each made two stops in the net, but Winthrop's third shot on goal, in the 68^th minute of the match, broke the tie.

Winthrop's Allie Thomas netted her fourth goal of the year, as her attempt was deflected off a Gardner-Webb defender and got past Brown, giving the Eagles a 1-0 lead.

Following Thomas' goal, lightning in the area would cause a 30-minute delay, and when play resumed, the Runnin' Bulldogs came out with a sense of urgency.

Just two minutes after the match resumed, Samuelle Grove cut to the inside of the box and sent a ball towards the middle of the net, but Winthrop's Kelly Horan made a diving stop.

After a rest, Jana Braun would re-enter the game in the 76^th minute and fire three shots, with two being on goal and one blocked.

Jada Newton took the Runnin' Bulldogs' final shot on goal in the 83^rd minute, but it wound up in the hands of Horan as the 'Dogs fell to Winthrop, 1-0.

"We pushed and had chances after the delay to equalize, but the ball didn't bounce our way tonight," said Varga. "We will regroup and use a few extra days to get back to the way we have been playing."

With the win, Winthrop improves to 7-2-1 and 3-0 in Big South Conference play, while Gardner-Webb drops to 5-4-2 overall and suffers its first setback in conference action.

The Runnin' Bulldogs outshot the Eagles, 15-13, with eight of their attempts coming on goal. Winthrop placed six shots on goal, and Brown made five saves for Gardner-Webb.

For the Eagles, Horan saved eight shots and recorded a clean sheet.

Gardner-Webb will return to action next Wednesday, October 3 at Big South opponent UNC Asheville. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.