MOON TOWNSHIP, PA. – Robert Morris gave Gardner-Webb their first loss of the season on Sunday afternoon. The Runnin' Bulldogs went into halftime with a 6-3 lead, but the Colonials outscored the visitors 9-3 in the second half for the 12-9 win.
 
Eilish Gately scored the first two goals of the afternoon, both off assists from Lauren Deaver. The first came at the 26:52 mark and the second at the 17:09. Gardner-Webb did not allow Robert Morris to score their first goal until the 15:23 mark. Robert Morris answered with a three-goal run to take the lead, 3-2.
 
The Dogs' ended the first half on a four-goal run to lead the game 6-3. Aimie Perino scored the first goal in the run to tie the match off an assist from Jada Preston. This score marked her first career goal. Preston scored the next in a man-up opportunity to regain the lead for Gardner-Webb. Talen Francis scored the next two to end the half.
 
The second half started with a goal by Francis off a pass from Jessica Vetter, for Francis' third of the day. This score gave the Runnin' Bulldogs a four-goal lead with 28 minutes remaining in the match.
 
At the 26:52 mark in the second half, Robert Morris ended their 15-minute scoreless stretch with a goal from Melanie Gandy. This goal began an 8-0 run the Colonials that lead to Robert Morris leading for the remainder of the game.
 
Gardner-Webb ended the run at the 8:04 mark with a free-position goal in a man-up opportunity by Tori Birks. The day ended with Talen Francis scoring her fourth goal of the day off a free-position shot.
 
In goal for the Runnin' Bulldogs was freshman Kathleen Mackey who had another great game. She finished the day making 11 saves, including some from the doorstep. This game was her first career loss where she started in goal.
 
Gardner-Webb lost the turnover battle 28-37. Of the 37 Runnin' Bulldogs turnovers, 21 of these were forced by the Colonials.
 
Robert Morris gained the advantage in ground balls, ending with a 48-38 lead in the category.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs finished with 11 draw controls, one less than the Colonials' 12.
 
Gardner-Webb converted 16 of their 22 clear attempts on the day and stopped three of their opponents' attempts.
 
Francis led the team in goals scored with four, and Gately finished with two. Perino, Preston, and Birks each scored one.
 
Preston and Deaver tied for the team lead with two assists. Gately and Vetter each finished the day with one.
 
Emily Rowell led the Runnin' Bulldogs with seven groundballs. Heather Lobas and Vetter each finished with four. Francis, Deaver, Mackenzie Gallery, and Megan Trout picked up three ground balls apiece. Perino, Janice Donaldson, and Lauren Connor each had two. Preston, Grace Briggs, and Maddie Martin all finished with one.
 
Francis led the team with five draw controls. Birks and Devaer finished with two each. Martin and Gately both had one apiece.
 
Lobas forced the Colonials into four turnovers on the day. Francis, Trout, and Rowell each caused two Robert Morris turnovers. Perino, Gallery, Preston, Martin, and Birks finished the day with one apiece.
 
Next up for the Runnin' Bulldogs is a trip to Greenville, S.C. on Thursday, March 4th to play against Furman (1-2).