CHARLESTON, S.C. – Senior Maddie Turlington broke a late scoreless tie with a game-winning goal in the 83^rd minute as Gardner-Webb women's soccer (2-1-1) went on the road and escaped Johnson Hagood Stadium with a 1-0 victory over The Citadel (1-2) on Sunday afternoon in Charleston.
 
With time ticking down to under eight minutes to go, pressure from Turlington forced The Citadel goalie Brie Sikes to misplay a touch just a few yards in front of her own box. Turlington's relentless pursuit saw her quickly close in and steal possession, sending Sikes to the ground in the process while opening a chance for the Gardner-Webb attacker to break free and bury a right-footed shot directly into the back of the unattended goal.
 
"At this level you have to earn victories, and I felt we did exactly that," said head coach Mike Varga. "Even though it was one of those opportunistic goals, Maddie worked to create it, and I felt as a whole that we worked hard enough to be there at the right place in the right time to capitalize like we did."
 
For Turlington, it was her third goal of the year and her second game-winning score in just four matches this season. The reigning Big South Offensive Player of the Year now has eight game winners in her illustrious career in Boiling Springs.
 
The Citadel controlled most of the play in the first half, firing off nine shots to only three for Gardner-Webb in the first half of play. However, following some adjustments at the break, the Runnin' Bulldogs went on to give up only two shots on target to The Citadel over the final 45 minutes, a strong defensive effort that allowed a late opening for the GWU offense to take advantage of to pull out the victory.
 
"I thought we came out playing well, and even though it was all zeroes at the half, I challenged the team to up our work rate a little bit in the second half. And they responded," said Varga.
 
Despite The Citadel posting 17 total shots on the afternoon, Gardner-Webb managed to put three shots on target to only two for the Bulldogs in the second half. GWU goalkeeper Chloe Leffler turned away both, however, and finished the match with six saves overall as the freshman earned her first-career win in her first-career start between the pipes.
 
The win for Gardner-Webb is its first over The Citadel since 2009. Counting Sunday's meeting, the two teams have only met twice since then, with the Runnin' Bulldogs avenging a 3-1 loss last season in a match played in Boiling Springs
 
"The Citadel is a quality team, and this is a tough place to play on the road, especially with the turf," concluded Varga. "I'm really proud of our effort and coming away with this result today."
 
After picking up its second win of the season, Gardner-Webb now looks forward to a seven-match homestand that puts the team in Boiling Springs for most of the month of September. The Runnin' Bulldogs will begin that stretch this upcoming Thursday, September 1 when they welcome Jacksonville State to Greene-Harbison Stadium for a 4 p.m. kickoff.