FAIRFAX, Va. – Three different players scored for the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs as Oskar Wang, Hendrik Kortgodde and Jorge Salgado all scored for the 'Dogs, and Benito's goal in overtime lifted the 'Dogs to a 3-2 win over the George Mason Patriots on Saturday night.

"We scored early, and held them for off the board for awhile," said head coach Tony Setzer. "Hendrik scored a nice goal for us in the second half, but we have to be able to close out games late in regulation and not let our opponent force overtime. Regardless, it's always good to leave with in a win, and now we'll prepare for a tough Big South match against Longwood next weekend."

Wang got Gardner-Webb on the board early with his team-leading fifth goal of 2019. Just six minutes into the match, Salgado played a ball through the George Mason Patriots' defense and Wang fired a strike from 12 yards out into the upper 90.

Gardner-Webb (3-3-1) would hold the lead for the final 39 minutes of the first half. The 'Dogs managed one additional shot in the half, an attempt from Simen Olsen that landed wide of the net.

George Mason (1-6-0) took four shots in the first 45 minutes, two of which were on target. Both shots were stopped by Daniel Husa – one in the 27^th minute and one in the 30^th minute – who played the first 33 minutes in goal before freshman Mallel Rios entered in relief.

The Patriots netted the equalizer three minutes into the final half when Raheem Lawal sent a ball past Rios into the upper 90.

The Runnin' Bulldogs immediately countered George Mason's attempt with a shot on goal of their own from Abel Gebrekiros, but it was snagged by the Patriots' Brison Moorhead, as the match remained tied at one.

Gardner-Webb managed a pair of corners shortly after Gebrekiros' attempt, both from Wang, but the 'Dogs were unable to place a shot on target off the corner.
Rios was challenged in the 55^th and 56^th minutes but saved both attempts from the Patriots before making his fourth save of the half seven minutes later.

Kortgodde scored the first goal of his collegiate career in the 73^rd minute, which put the 'Dogs up by a goal, 2-1. Dylan Dominguez crossed the ball into the box, and the Karst, Germany native sent the ball into the lower left corner of the net from 10 yards out to give Gardner-Webb the lead.

It looked like the Runnin' Bulldogs would hold on for the win in regulation, but George Mason netted the equalizer with 17 seconds left when Ryan Mingachos received a cross and scored to send the game to overtime.

In overtime, Salgado was the hero for the 'Dogs, scoring his third goal of the season just prior to the halfway mark of the first overtime period. With 5:20 remaining in the first 10-minute overtime, he received a pass from Gebrekiros and scored from five yards out to give Gardner-Webb the win.

The Patriots outshout the Runnin Bulldogs, 11-9, and held a 9-6 advantage in shots on target. GMU held a 7-6 advantage in corner kicks. In goal, Husa and Rios played for the 'Dogs. Husa played the first 33 minutes and stopped two shots, while Rios earned the win and played the remaining 61 minutes. He stopped five shots. George Mason's Brison Moorhead made three saves in the defeat.

The Runnin' Bulldogs will return to action next Saturday, September 28 at 6 p.m. when they host the Longwood Lancers to begin Big South Conference play.