BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb had a scoreless draw in its regular season finale to USC Upstate on Senior Night. The draw sealed the team's spot in the upcoming Big South Conference Tournament.
 
The first half saw the best scoring opportunity for either team come in the 37^th minute, as Klara Ovefelt blasted a shot off her right foot towards the top of the goal. The Spartans' Cora Brendle made the stop for her fourth of the evening. A couple of minutes after, the Runnin' Bulldogs had another chance as Maddie Turlington sent a through-ball to Autumn Woodard down the right side of the pitch who sent a low shot that Brendle fell on.
 
In the second half, Turlington rattled a shot off the right post that had a chance to break the scoreless match at the 73^rd minute. In the 85^th minute, Carina Leal was found on a long pass from a drop ball sprinting down the left side and hit the crossbar from over 30 yards out providing another chance for the 'Dogs.
 
Gardner-Webb's defense posted their first shutout since a 2-0 victory on September 28 at Longwood. Chloe Leffler collected two saves in the triumph.
 
"I was very proud of our team for executing the gameplan," said head coach Mike Varga. "I thought it was one of our best performances on the defensive side against some of the premier attackers in the conference."

Overall, it was a physical match between the conference opponents. The game saw four yellow cards be distributed between the teams as Upstate was whistled for 12 fouls and Gardner-Webb for 10.

"We are going to enjoy our senior banquet and then we will shift our focus to the tournament," said Varga. "We have been to three semis in the past five years so it really says a lot about the players we have here at Gardner-Webb."
 
The match ended the 2022 regular season for the Runnin' Bulldogs. The seedings for the Big South Tournament will be announced later tonight as they await the rest of the results across the conference. The event will be held at the Matthew Sportsplex with the semifinals on Thursday, November 3 and the finals on Sunday, November 6.