No. 2 Gardner-Webb Uses Late Goal in 1-0 Win Over No.6 USC Upstate
Jada Newton's goal with 4:01 remaining was the 31
st shot of the match, but it was all that mattered as her game-winner gave the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs a spot in the Big South women's soccer championship for the first time since 2010.
"I think everyone felt the pressure of a tough semifinal match," said head coach
Mike Varga. "We came through when we had to. We had a much better second half outshooting them 11-3 and turned up our energy to get the crucial win against an Upstate team that made us battle for 90 minutes."
The two teams were even in the first half, combining to take 17 attempts, with the Spartans holding a 9-8 advantage over the first 45 minutes.
Gardner-Webb managed five shots in a five-minute span midway through the first period, but were unable to convert.
The two keepers made nine total stops in the first half with both coming up big when it mattered late.
In the 40
th minute, Gardner-Webb's
Aubrie Jackson attempted a shot that looked like it would surely wide up in the upper 90, but Upstate's Logan Pace made a diving stop to her left and batted the ball away from the goal, allowing the Spartans' defense to successfully clear the ball away.
In similar fashion, Upstate's Emma Honis had a shot on goal in the 44
th minute, but
Keely Brown lept to her left and knocked the ball away from the post to keep the contest scoreless at the intermission.
The second half was largely controlled by the Runnin' Bulldogs, who nearly quadrupled the Spartans in attempts, 11-3.
Stina Kleppe looked to put Gardner-Webb in front with back-to-back shots in the 61
st and 62
nd minutes, but hers attempts were not on goal.
Right before the 80 minute mark, Kleppe and Newton once again began leading the Runnin' Bulldogs attack.
Newton had two attempts – one high and one wide, while Kleppe took a shot in the 82
nd minute that sailed wide of the net.
After Kleppe's attempt, it was Newton who took the next shot for Gardner-Webb, breaking a scoreless tie and putting the Runnin' Bulldogs ahead, 1-0, with just 4:01 left in the match. Newton scored her 10
th goal off a deflection that was sent back to her by
Erin Shamleffer.
The Spartans managed one final shot on goal but to no avail as Brown stopped her sixth shot of the night and lone attempt of the final half to preserve the win and spot in Sunday's championship match for Gardner-Webb.
The Runnin' Bulldogs held a 19-13 advantage in shots, while the two teams each took three corner kicks.
On Sunday, the Runnin' Bulldogs will face off against top-seeded Radford at 2:00 p.m.
"Radford is a tough team to play with a lot of talent," said Varga. "They have some great attacking players, and we'll have to bring our A for the championship match."
The two teams met earlier this year in Boiling Springs with Gardner-Webb handing the Highlanders their only Big South Conference loss of the 2018 season.