BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb men's soccer team faced off against Spartanburg Methodist in its first exhibition of 2019 and defeated the Pioneers, 4-1.

The contest featured three 30-minute periods, allowing the majority of the roster to see significant playing time. The contest was played in front of a substantial crowd which nearly filled the Greene-Harbison Stadium stands to capacity. New students began moving into dorms yesterday and spent part of their Saturday supporting the Runnin' Bulldogs.

With plenty of new faces on the roster, one of the goals of head coach Tony Setzer was to mesh the returners and newcomers, but also get a look at the majority of the roster prior to the start of the regular season on August 30 at Charlotte.

"Anytime that you have an exhibition, it's good because it gives our staff a chance  to try out new combinations and figure out which players have gelled with each other," said Setzer. "With so much depth on the roster it's important to give multiple players adequate playing time and have all our guys working together and becoming comfortable on the field."

While it took some time for the 'Dogs get to comfortable, the hosts quickly added a pair of goals in the 22^nd and 29^th minutes from Pedro Benito and Abdul Manaf Amadu to take a 2-0 lead over the Pioneers.

After wholesale lineup changes prior to the start of the second 30 minutes, the 'Dogs struggled to control possession early, but 13 minutes into the period, a foul in the box by SMC gave Gardner-Webb a penalty kick, which was converted by Hendrik Kortgodde, extending GWU's lead to 3-0.

In the 53^rd minute, the Runnin' Bulldogs took a 4-0 lead thanks to a goal from freshman Laurits Lillemose, and immediately regained possession once the game restarted. Despite controlling the ball for nearly all of the remaining eight minutes in the second period, the 'Dogs could not add to their goal total.

Spartanburg Methodist got on the board in the final minute of the second period, making it a 4-1 contest after 60 minutes of play.

The 'Dogs nearly re-took a four-goal lead in the 70^th minute, but the shot glanced off the crossbar. The Pioneers attempted their first two corners in the 72^nd and 80^th minutes respectively but were unable to score off them as Gardner-Webb's lead remained at three goals.

Over the final 10 minutes, the 'Dogs managed one shot on goal, while the Spartanburg Methodist placed a pair of shots on goal, but GWU won by three goals, 4-1.
The Runnin' Bulldogs outshout the Pioneers, 16-7 and had five corner kicks, while SMC managed just two.

Gardner-Webb will return to action next week with a pair of exhibitions against NCAA Division II opponents. Young Harris will visit Boiling Springs on Wednesday, August 21 at 5 p.m., and the 'Dogs will host the Emmanuel College Lions on Saturday, August 24 at 7 p.m.