BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - In its first on-field action of the 2025 season, the Gardner-Webb women's soccer team earned a hard fought exhibition draw with visiting Furman on Thursday night at Greene-Harbison Stadium, using a late goal to level the match before eventually prevailing 3-2 in a penalty shootout

A narrow first half gave way to an open second half, where the visitors took the lead for the first time minutes after the second 45 began. After a foul in the box on Gardner-Webb, the Paladins stepped up to convert a penalty kick, giving Furman a 1-0 lead.

With just under 10 minutes to play, the Runnin' Bulldogs drew level. Senior forward Kaitlyn Huff launched a perfectly weighted cross from the near side, right towards sophomore midfielder Gigi Sweet. Sweet directed the header on frame and out of reach of a sprawling Furman goalkeeper, bringing the match to a 1-1 score.

With the match still tied after 90 minutes, Gardner-Webb and Furman went to a best-of-five penalty shootout. The Runnin' Bulldogs fell behind after missing each of its first two penalties, but a pair of saves by senior goalkeeper Savannah Dixon kept GWU alive. Junior midfielder Lily Stegall stepped up to deliver the match-winning penalty kick, striking the ball off the underside of the crossbar and over the line, handing the Runnin' Bulldogs a 3-2 decision in the shootout.

Gardner-Webb returns to action on Thursday night, August 14th at 6:00 pm, with the official 2025 season opener at Stetson.