MACON, Ga. – An early goal put Gardner-Webb on top less than 10 minutes in, but the Mercer Bears netted the equalizer in the 51^st minute and scored again in the second overtime period to defeat the Runnin' Bulldogs, 2-1, in Macon, Ga. on Friday.

"We jumped out early with a nice goal by Jada," said head coach Mike Varga. "Really the match wasn't like it looks in the stats. We actually were pretty organized defensively. Most of the shots they took from distance were not threatening. Katelyn Kellogg made a couple of good saves and even got her hand on the first penalty. We battled and came up short. That's athletics, but we are a resilient group, and I know the results will start to fall our way."

Mercer came out of the gates firing with three shots on target in the first seven minutes, but Kellogg snagged all three shots to keep the game scoreless early.

Gardner-Webb (0-4-1) struck first when Jada Newton took the 'Dogs' first attempt of the game after receiving a pass from Maddie Turlington. Newton's goal, her second of the season, put GWU on top in the eighth minute.

Over the next 25 minutes, the Bears outshot Gardner-Webb, 7-2, but Kellogg remained steady in the net, stopping all three of Mercer's shots that were on the mark. Just prior to the intermission, Stina Kleppe's attempt was high of the net, and the Runnin' Bulldogs took a one-goal lead into the half.

In the second period, Mercer needed only six minutes to net the equalizer. Following two saves by Kellogg, a foul in the box gave the Bears' Abigal Zoeller a penalty kick, and her first goal of the contest tied things at one goal a piece.

In the 59^th minute, Ella Bianco had a chance to score the go-ahead goal, but Mercer's Jordyn Ebert was able to make the stop. Kleppe recorded a shot on goal eight minutes later, but Ebert was once again able to come up with the save.

Despite allowing the equalizer in the 51^st minute, Kellogg remained calm and collected in goal, making six stops after that. She snagged Mercer's final attempt of the half, which came off the foot of Amaya Evans with just one second remaining, to force overtime.

Kellogg made two stops in the first overtime period, and Emily Jonas took GWU's only shot of the first 10-minute session. Jonas' attempt came with 16 seconds remaining and was off target to the left of the net.

The final overtime period was quiet, and two teams were just 2:13 from ending the contest in a 1-1 draw, but Abigal Zoeller earned her second penalty kick and converted again to give the Bears the 2-1 win.

Mercer nearly tripled Gardner-Webb in shots (36-11) and placed 19 shots on target, while four of the Runnin' Bulldogs' shots were on goal. Mercer held an 18-4 advantage in corner kicks.

Offensively, Newton and Kleppe each took three shots for Gardner-Webb, while Mercer's Zoeller took a match-high 10.

In goal, Kellogg had a busy night and made a career-high 16 stops. Mercer's Ebert was credited with three saves.

Gardner-Webb will be idle tomorrow before returning home for a non-conference contest with Coastal Carolina at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The Runnin' Bulldogs were originally scheduled to host The Citadel, but The Citadel could not travel due to Hurricane Dorian. Instead, the 'Dogs will battle Coastal Carolina, which relocated to Rock Hill, S.C. The Chanticleers played Jacksonville University tonight and will make the hour trek to Boiling Springs for Sunday's match.