HIGH POINT, N.C. - After finishing in a tie for fourth place in the regular season, the Gardner-Webb women's soccer team takes the pitch on Saturday afternoon in the first round of the 2025 Big South Tournament, taking on High Point in the program's first postseason game since 2022

GAME INFORMATION
Game 18: No. 5 Gardner-Webb (4-10-3, 3-3-2 Big South) at No. 4 High Point (3-9-4, 3-3-2 Big South)
Location: Vert Stadium - High Point, N.C.
Stream: ESPN Plus
Kickoff: 4:00 pm
Tournament: Big South Conference, First Round
Previous Meeting: High Point 3, Gardner-Webb 0 - October 25th

TEAM AND POSTSEASON NOTES

• After being picked ninth by league coaches in the preseason, Gardner-Webb rode timely scoring a historic defensive effort to tie for fourth place in the Big South Standings, qualifying for the Big South Tournament for the first time since 2022 
• Thanks in large part to a run of five consecutive shutouts, the Runnin' Bulldogs finished with just seven goals allowed in eight league games, the third-best defensive record in the Big South this season
• The Runnin' Bulldogs landed four players on All-Big South Teams, one on each the first, second, freshman and academic teams, including winning the league's top goalkeeper award
• Saturday will be the 10th time in program history Gardner-Webb has played in a Big South Tournament quarterfinal/first round, advancing to the semifinals in 2010, 2018 and 2019
• Gardner-Webb and High Point last met in the Big South Tournament in 2019, with a 1-0 win for the Runnin' Bulldogs in that season's Big South Tournament semifinals
• Previously, GWU and HPU have played three times in the Big South Tournament - the aforementioned 2019 win by Gardner-Webb, the 2010 Big South Conference title game won by High Point, and the 2009 Big South quarterfinals, also won by the Panthers
• The Runnin' Bulldogs are seeking the program's first Big South semifinals appearance and postseason win since 2022, when Gardner-Webb famously upset top-seed Campbell in a penalty shoout-out to advance to that season's title game

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER NOTES

• Senior goalkeeper Savannah Dixon was a major part of the success for Gardner-Webb in 2025, finishing second in the league in goals against average (1.619), second in save percentage (.791) and first in total saves (102) on her way to claiming the first Big South Goalkeeper of The Year award in program history
• Receiving All-Big South Second Team honors, senior defender Camila Lezcano helped lead one of the best defensive units in the conference during her senior season. The Miami, Fla. native was fourth on the team with 1326 minutes, started and played in 16 games, played the full 90 in eight of those contests, and even added a goal and an assist against SC State on August 31st
• Landing on the All-Big South Freshman Team, freshman defender Sarah Birchall emerged mid-season to become one of the most important pieces of the Gardner-Webb defense. The Brisbane, Australia native abroad played in 14 games and made 11 starts, including every Big South game. The Runnin' Bulldogs went on a record breaking run with Birchall in lineup, not allowing a goal over six straight games while she was on the pitch
• Receiving Big South All-Academic Team recognition, senior defender Peyton Bryant was excellent in 2025 for the Runnin' Bulldogs both on and off the pitch. On the pitch, the Mooresville, N.C. native led all outfield players on the team with 1383 minutes across 16 starts, including playing the full 90 in every Big South game.
• On the attack, Gardner-Webb has been led by junior forward Olivia Tribolet, who finished the regular season with a team-high four goals and nine points, including a brace against SC State on August 31st to earn Big South Offensive Player of The Week
• The Runnin' Bulldogs feature a significant amount of depth, with several key contributors off the bench, including freshman forward Julia McBride who played 385 minutes this season, and graduate forward Annie Slovak who tallied 576 minutes, each only making one start
• Others to make significant contributions in the team include freshman defender Noor Reslan and freshman midfielder Katie Stefanovski who have each started 11 and 15 games respectively, and freshman midfielder Bailey Pottratz who has featured in 16 games, making nine starts, including a stretch of five games in a row during September