BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Graduate forward
Lucas Mauro blasted home the game-winner in the 85
th minute while the Gardner-Webb University men's soccer team overcame a two-goal second half deficit to defeat UAB 3-2 on Tuesday evening inside Greene-Harbison Stadium.
The Runnin' Bulldogs dominated on paper, outshooting UAB by a total of 25-9, including 9-6 shots on goal. Gardner-Webb also created five corner kicks compared to just three for the Blazers.
Mauro led GWU with six total shots while
Elias Khodri and
Tiago Campos added three shots each. Junior keeper
Alan Horrocks picked up the win after recording all 90 minutes between the pipes, tallying four saves.
It would be the Runnin' Bulldogs that came out of the gate strong, securing the game's first seven shots but could not push anything past the Blazers goalie. The missed opportunities proved costly in the 25
th minute as UAB scored on its first real look at goal. That 1-0 advantage held strong into the halftime break.
The Blazers doubled their lead five minutes into the second period as Gui Gragnano snuck behind the defense and placed the rock in the lower-90 for a 2-0 lead at the 50:42 mark.
However, from that point, the Runnin' Bulldogs picked up the pace while playing more aggressively on the offensive end of the field. That newfound energy paid off in the 63
rd minute when graduate forward
Lucas Gonzalez fired the ball off a UAB defender and into the back of the goal, trimming the deficit to 2-1.
Horrocks kept the Black and Red in the game with timely saves before freshman defender
Jalen Moore knotted the game at 2-all after collecting a brilliant corner kick from senior midfielder
Caio Hughes in the 79
th minute.
Gardner-Webb continued to play aggressively as it now looked for the win. The persistence paid off in the 85
th minute when junior forward Jalen Orr was fouled in the box, setting up the game-winning penalty kick off the left boot of Mauro. GWU milked the remaining five minutes of game action while securing the non-conference win.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will return to the pitch on Saturday, October 26, playing host to the Spartans of USC Upstate in Big South Conference action. That contest will also mark senior day for Gardner-Webb. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.
