BOILING SPRINGS -- Gardner-Webb scored 21 goals, the most ever scored in a match in Big South Conference history, and the Runnin' Bulldogs completed a historic 21-0 victory over Allen University on Friday night from Greene-Harbison Stadium in Boiling Springs.
 
Gardner-Webb (4-3-2) scored 13 goals in the first half before adding another eight in second to cap off an unprecedented performance on its home pitch. The 21 goals scored for GWU finished four off the all-time NCAA Division I record of 25. 
 
Eleven different Runnin' Bulldogs scored in the match led by two players who finished with four goals apiece --  Abby Clark and Mina Kecman -- and another pair who also registered hat tricks in Maddie Turlington and Klara Ovefelt. Autumn Woodard and Carina Leal each added two goals, while Ainsley Sutherland, Livi Tanzer, Maddie Sutherland, Amely Molina, and Kaitlyn Huff all tacked on a goal of their own in the historic effort. 

"We had 11 players score goals," said head coach Mike Varga. "We have a lot of talented players on this team who haven't gotten a lot of opportunity, so it was nice to see them get a chance and execute what they've been working on in training. The players who scored multiple goals for the majority played 30 minutes or less tonight, so we got quality minutes from them even though they were limited. It's also good to get some rest for some of those players who have been playing a lot of minutes up until now as we prepare for Sunday's match and Wednesday's conference opener against Charleston Southern."

Clark's career outing also included five assists, as the junior forward finished the night with both a school and conference-record 12 points overall. Ovefelt also added a career-high three assists of her own, as did Tanzer, while Woodard dished out four, another career high. In all, 13 different Gardner-Webb players combined for 26 assists, a new NCAA Division I record, besting a mark held by Notre Dame dating back to 1996. 

2️⃣1️⃣ 𝙂𝙊𝘼𝙇𝙎! 😳@GWUWSOC scores the most goals in #BigSouthWSOC⚽ history and seventh-most in @NCAASoccer history! pic.twitter.com/twXmRqMoAj

— Big South Conference (@BigSouthSports) September 17, 2022

"I appreciate Allen coming in," continued Varga. "For us, a lot of players were able to get experience tonight. The challenge for me to the team was to continue to play unselfish soccer, and we actually moved the ball pretty well and scored some pretty unselfish goals while working hard defensively, which is all I can ask for."
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs are next in action Sunday at home against South Carolina State. Opening kickoff is set for 7 p.m. from Greene-Harbison Stadium in Boiling Springs.