BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb (2-12, 2-4) women's lacrosse team put together a solid comeback, but it fell just short as the Runnin' Bulldogs were upended by Winthrop (5-8, 3-2) 10-6 on Wednesday afternoon inside Spangler Stadium.
Redshirt senior Rebecca Ferrina and freshman Katie Westbrook led the way for GWU, posting two goals each while Ferrina added two assists for a team-high four points. Sophomore keeper Emma Anderson went the distance in goal, tallying 18 saves on the day.
Winthrop held a 31-20 advantage on shots, including 21-12 shots on goal. Both teams went 14-for-14 on clear opportunities while the Eagles led groundballs 15-10. Draw controls were tied at 9-each.
Gardner-Webb picked up the game's first goal as Ferrina called her own number at the 9:30 mark of the opening period, but the Eagles came back with the equalizer just over a minute later.
Freshman Ella Grace Bishop got in on the scoring action 13th score of the season, however, Winthrop answered the bell once more as Emily Hollinger netted a goal with 31 ticks remaining in the quarter.
From that point, the Eagles would go on to score the final four goals of the half while taking a 6-2 lead into the halftime intermission.
That difference increased to 8-2 after back-to-back scores to open the second half, but junior Emma Duchscherer found a cutting Ferrina for her second score, putting an end to the scoring outburst and trimming the deficit to 8-3 more than midway through the frame.
However, Winthrop tacked on the final two scores of the period, taking a 10-3 advantage into the final stanza.
The Runnin' Bulldogs put together a valiant comeback attempt in the fourth, netting the only three goals of the quarter as this time, Ferrina found Duchscherer before Westbrook snuck in her only two goals of the contest, pulling the 'Dawgs to within 10-6.
Unfortunately, it proved to be too little, too late as Winthrop was able to milk the remaining 5:17 off the clock before taking the 10-6 win.
Gardner-Webb returns to action on Saturday, April 19, traveling to nearby Spartanburg, S.C. for a meeting with the Wofford Terriers at 1 p.m.
