BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb University men's soccer team pulled off one of the biggest wins in program history with a convincing 3-1 win over visiting Wake Forest on Friday evening at Greene-Harbison Stadium.

"I told the boys to just enjoy this win", said head coach Scott Wells. "This is what I was talking about when I said they would fall in love with Gardner-Webb. This is very big for momentum and we have to figure out how to kick on from here. Very proud of the boys and want them to enjoy the memories being made here at Gardner-Webb."

Graduate forward Lucas Mauro started the scoring for the Runnin' Bulldogs in the first half before goals from junior Jaylen Orr and Philip Nicoletti in the second 45 stamped the massive win for GWU.
 
The first half started with a frantic pace as the two teams looked to press forward early on. It would be the Runnin' Bulldogs who struck first blood as Mauro finished a beautiful delivery from sophomore Max Fisher, giving GWU a 1-0 lead in just the 9^th minute of play.
 
From that point, the Gardner-Webb defense completely took over, denying every advancement by Wake Forest while not allowing the Demon Deacons a single shot on goal in the first 45 minutes of action.
 
The Deacs came out aggressive to begin the second half, but junior goalie Alan Horrocks proved stellar in net, ripping off a pair of saves that allowed the Runnin' Bulldogs to preserve its slim advantage.
 
Those missed opportunities by Wake Forest proved costly as Gardner-Webb doubled its lead in the 65^th minute following a magnificent breakaway goal by Jaylen Orr, who just snuck behind the defense for his first score of the season while sophomore Breno Correia picked up the assist.
 
Wake Forest made things interesting in the 76^th minute following a score by Babacar Niang, but Nicoletti put the game to rest with 2:27 remaining, blasting the rock into the back of the top-90 after freshman Jalen Moore provided an excellent ball, propelling the Runnin' Bulldogs to one of the biggest wins in program history.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs will be back in action on Tuesday, September 10, traveling to Huntington, W. Va. to take on the Thundering Herd of Marshall. Game time is set for 7:15 p.m.