BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb dropped a back-and-forth match to Kennesaw State on Tuesday afternoon to fall to 2-4 on the season. The first half saw five lead changes between the two teams across the first 30 minutes.
 
Kennesaw State opened the scoring with goals from Siena and Marissa Gore for an early 2-0 lead. After the scoring spurt, the teams went to trade three-goal scoring runs for the rest of the first half and it stretched into the beginning of the second half.
 
Going into halftime, the Owls led by a 7-6 and capped another three-goal spurt to bring the lead to 8-6.
 
After trading goals at the 21-minute mark, back-to-back goals by Hannah Smith evened the score to 9-9. The first came immediately off a converted clear attempt, and the second off a free position opportunity.
 
The Owls recorded another three goals in less than a minute from 16:18 to 15:20, gave Kennesaw a 12-9 advantage. Gardner-Webb was unable to tie the game after this point as the teams traded goals for the remainder of the game. The last Runnin' Bulldogs goal was scored by Jada Preston for her second of the day.
 
Neither team put another shot in the back of the cage in the last 11 minutes as the goalies made a combined five saves during the last portion of the game.
 
The Owls were led by seniors Siena Gore, seven goals scored, and Marissa Gore, three goals scored.
 
Hailey Maranto led Gardner-Webb in points, tying her career-high of five. Two were off goals while three off assists, which also topped the team. Preston dished two, and Aimie Perino and Eilish Gately had one assist each.
 
Kathleen Mackey started in goal for the 'Dogs and made nine saves in the loss.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs had a four-way tie for the team lead in goals scored. Gately, Preston, Smith, and Maranto each had two. Perino, Talen Francis, Tori Birks, and Brittany Sherrod scored one apiece.
 
Gardner-Webb finished the day leading with a 21-20 advantage in groundballs. Maddie Martin led the team with six groundballs. Janice Donaldson was next with four, and Birks had three. Kathleen Mackey, Perino, Mackenzie Gallery, Gately, Birks, Emily Rowell, Lauren Deaver, Jessica Vetter, and Maranto had one apiece.
 
The Owls gained a clear advantage in the game by winning the draw control battle 16-11, 10-4 at the end of the first thirty minutes. Martin paced the team with four. Francis, Gately, and Birks each had two, and Vetter finished with one.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs caused 10 turnovers. Donaldson and Martin led the team with three each. Heather Lobas, Birks, Rowell, and Vetter each caused one.
 
Gardner-Webb now turns their attention to their Big South Conference opener against Presbyterian on Friday at 7:00 p.m. in Clinton, S.C., seeking to end a four-game losing streak.