CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – In a tough non-conference road contest, the Gardner-Webb University women's soccer team came up on the short end of a 2-1 decision at Boston College on Thursday afternoon.

"Really proud of our team today", said head coach Erik Solberg. "We fought hard for 90 minutes and represented Gardner-Webb and our program really well on a big stage. I thought we were organized and disciplined defending, and was really happy with how we created our goal that made the game close at the end."
 
The early stages of the match were controlled by the defenses as the first shot by either side did not come until the 19^th minute of action. GWU's Julianna Jatkola appeared poised to give the Runnin' Bulldogs their first lead of the contest, but her right-footed strike was corralled at the bottom center of the net by the Golden Eagles' keeper.
 
Boston College was able to breakthrough at the 33:56 mark of the opening period, taking a 1-nil lead following a double-assisted goal from Paige Peltier. The Eagles were able to muster a trio of shots on goal down the stretch, but the crafty net-minding work of Stephanie Liu sent the game into the break with the home team leading 1-0.
 
The Golden Eagles doubled their lead in the 70^th minute after Sydney Segalla found the back of the net off an assist from Ella Richards. However, Gardner-Webb was able to trim the deficit in half at the 81:46 mark of the second following a brilliant strike into the back of the cage by Abby Clark.
 
Unfortunately, that would be the last look at goal for the Runnin' Bulldogs as GWU dropped its second consecutive 2-1 decision to begin the 2024 campaign.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs will return to the friendly confines of Greene-Harbsion Field on Sunday, August 25, playing host to the Valkyries of Converse University. That contest is scheduled to kickoff at 6 p.m.