RICHMOND, VA – Gardner-Webb dropped their match at Virginia Commonwealth on Saturday by an 18-6 decision. The Rams' 7-0 run late in the first half proved too much for the Runnin' Bulldogs to overcome.
 
Gardner-Webb's defense held strong in the first 17 minutes of the match by only allowing two goals to be scored. Talen Francis' unassisted goal at the 18:27 mark opened the scoring for the Runnin' Bulldogs. Following this goal, VCU went on a 7-0 scoring run from the 12:33 and 4:57 marks in the first half to give them a 9-1.
 
Jada Preston stopped the scoring with a free-position goal at the 4:08 mark. VCU's Juliana George scored the last goal of the half which gave the Rams an eight-goal lead heading into the break.
 
Eilish Gately stopped the Rams' four-goal scoring run that started the second half with an assist from Jada Preston. After two more goals from the Rams, Jessica Vetter scored a free-position goal at the 5:51 mark.
 
The game ended with back-to-back goals by Gately with 1:07 and 0:06 remaining in the game.
 
Gately led all scorers with three goals. Vetter, Preston, and Francis had one apiece. Preston was responsible for the lone assist of the day for the team.
 
VCU edged Gardner-Webb by one in groundballs, draw controls and turnovers.
 
Vetter, Heather Lobas, Mackenzie Gallery, Janice Donaldson, Maddie Martin finished with two groundballs each. Kathleen Mackey, Tori Birks, and Lauren Connor had one.
 
Birks led the team with five draw controls, and Francis had three. Martin and Gately each had two.
 
Three different Runnin' Bulldogs caused a Ram turnover each, and they were Birks, Mackey, and Aimie Perino.
 
Mackey saved eight shots in the loss with the start in goal.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs return for a home game on Tuesday, March 23 facing Kennesaw State with a 3:00 p.m. start scheduled.