AKRON, Ohio – Gardner-Webb's 8-0 scoring spree in the first half gave the Runnin' Bulldogs the early lead  over Akron, winning the game 16-8. With the win, the 'Dogs are now 2-0 on the season, the best start in the program's history.
 
"Happy to start our weekend road trip with a win where everyone was contributing to the team's performance," said Head Coach Jessie Aguglia.
 
After the Zips' Noelle Boyd scored the first goal of the day, less than a minute into the game, the Runnin' Bulldogs went on to score the next eight. The scoring run put the team up 8-1. The 'Dogs defense did not allow Akron to convert another goal until a man-up opportunity with less than six minutes remaining in the first half.
 
After Akron's second goal of the day, Gardner-Webb snuck in three more goals to push their lead to a score of 11-2 going into halftime. The run included two goals by Eilish Gately that were scored 15 seconds apart.
 
Coming out of halftime, Akron scored the first four goals, to cut the Gardner-Webb lead to 11-6. At the midway point in the second half, back-to-back goals by Jessica Vetter put the team up by 7.
 
In the last ten minutes of the match, Talen Francis scored all three Gardner-Webb goals furthering the team's lead.
 
"We saw a phenomenal performance from Talen Francis," said Aguglia. "She seems to be getting better every game and it's been great to watch her over the last three season and we are really excited to see what she will accomplish this year."
 
Freshman Kathleen Mackey built on her impressive debut between the pipes on Monday, saving 52.9% of shots faced.
 
Gardner-Webb was able to gain a clear advantage in controlling the ball as they had almost half the number of turnovers as their opponent. The Zips committed 19 while the Runnin' Bulldogs only turned the ball over ten times.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs put 81.8% of their shots on goal, which led to the team scoring 16 goals. 
 
The two teams split the draw controls, each winning 13 on the day.
 
Francis finished the day scoring five goals, and Gately tallied three for herself. Megan Trout, Tori Birks, and Jessica Vetter each racked up two goals. Jada Preston and Lauren Deaver scored one apiece.
 
Preston had two assists, and Deaver finished with an assist also.
 
Leading the team in caused turnovers was Francis with two. Preston, Birks, Aimie Perino, Hannah Smith, Janice Donaldson, and Emily Rowell caused one turnover apiece.
 
Francis won nine draw controls on the day. Maddie Martin finished with three, and Perino had one.
 
Trout, Francis, and Gabby Zerna led the team with three ground balls. Preston, Donaldson, and Mackenzie Gallery each finished with two. Perino, Martin, Smith, Birks, Rowell, Deaver, Vetter, Hailey Maranto, Brittany Sherrod, and Lauren Connor had one apiece.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs weekend's road trip concludes with a trip to Robert Morris on Sunday with a first draw at noon. The Colonials were picked to finish second in the 2021 MAC Preseason Coaches Poll. Gardner-Webb will be looking to build on their win streak and the best start in the program's history.