BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – A tough, double overtime Big South women's soccer contest went against the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs as the 'Dogs dropped a 1-0 decision to the High Point Panthers.
"High Point is a team that likes to keep possession," said head coach Mike Varga. "I thought we frustrated them at times, and if we kept possession in front of us we were fine. We followed our game plan and created a couple chances, but unfortunately we gave up a goal at the end that normally we don't give up."
Gardner-Webb (4-9-1, 3-2-0 Big South) took just six shots in the match but placed five of the six on goal.
High Point (6-6-1, 5-0-1 Big South) managed an impressive 18 shots through 109 minutes of action and put seven of its attempts on target. Gardner-Webb's Paula Suarez Is was busy in the net with three saves though the first 25 minutes, including back-to-back stops 10 seconds apart following a Panthers' free kick.
Suarez Is made her fourth save of the match in the 35th minute, and at the half, the two teams remained deadlocked at zero.
The Panthers nearly made it a 1-0 contest in the 60th minute, but as High Point attempted to head the ball into the lower right corner past Suarez Is, Kylie Ameres, was able to clear the ball off the back line and keep the Panthers off the scoreboard.
Anna Fish and Jada Newton placed shots on goal for the Runnin' Bulldogs in the second half with Fish's attempt coming in the 65th minute and Newton firing a strike as time wound down. Newton's shot with seven seconds left was stopped by the Panthers' Talia Klimes and was one of five saves she made on the night.
After 90 minutes, the two squads needed extra time to decide a winner, but the first overtime came and went quickly. The only point of note through the first 10 minutes of overtime was Newton's attempt on goal in the 93rd minute, but she was unable to score the game-winner for the 'Dogs.
In the second overtime period, Suarez Is made a save in the 106th minute, and the next three minutes were quiet as it looked like the game would end in a 0-0 tie.
In the 109th minute, High Point's Chloe LeFranc was able to get a shot off from the center of the field. LeFranc's attempt from more than 25 yards out came after she received a ball Juliette Vidal. LeFranc's shot took an awkward bounce as Suarez Is dove and snuck into the bottom left corner of the net as she attempted to grasp the ball.
For the Runnin' Bulldogs, Newton and Gabby Berkes each took two shots, while LeFranc led the Panthers with three. In goal, Suarez Is and Klimes each stopped five attempts.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will hit the road for a Big South Conference battle with the Presbyterian College Blue Hose on Saturday, October 12 at 7 p.m.
