Box Score FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Beall, dbeall@uscupstate.edu
Box Score (PDF)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The USC Upstate women's soccer team battled Gardner-Webb to a scoreless first half on Tuesday evening, but the Bulldogs broke out in the second half with three goals over the final 22 minutes and escaped with a 3-0 victory at County University Stadium.
The Spartans (1-6) notched a first-half shutout for the third time this season, but it was not enough as Gardner-Webb (1-4) picked up its first win of the year and stayed perfect at 7-0 in the all-time series with Upstate.
The Bulldogs had their first real scoring chance of the contest in the 16th minute when Lydia Fuller found herself in a one-on-one situation with Upstate keeper Sarah Plantz, but the junior came out and made a diving save to keep the game scoreless.
Gardner-Webb had another golden opportunity with under two minutes to play in the first half when the Spartans were whistled for a foul just outside the box, but Tara Woelfel's free kick sailed just over the cross bar and the hands of a leaping Plantz.
Upstate tallied five first-half shots with the best chance coming in the 24th minute when Courtney Deblois sent a lined shot on goal, but Bulldog goalkeeper Amy Schmitt made the play, tallying one of her three saves in the opening period.
The scoreless battle continued into the second half, but the Bulldogs finally broke through in the 69th minute when Woelfel sent a cross in the box and Shelby Hooe settled the pass and finished inside the left post to give Gardner-Webb its first goal of the 2012 season.
After playing 339 minutes before their first goal of the season, the Bulldogs took just seven minutes to net the second of the year when Ashley Carmean found Nichole Poppe and the freshman tallied her first collegiate goal to double the GWU lead and make it 2-0.
The Bulldogs were at it again with just 90 seconds on the clock when Samanthan Gutierrez found Hooe for her second goal of the contest, giving Gardner-Webb a 3-0 victory on the road.
The Spartans tallied nine shots in the contest, six of which were on goal and led to saves by Schmitt, while the Bulldogs attempted 19 shots, leading to four saves by Plantz. Each team lined up for one corner kick and both squads were whistled for three offsides.
The Spartans return to action on Thursday evening, traveling to nearby Wofford College to battle the Terriers. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. at Snyder Field.
Follow Upstate women's soccer all season long on your mobile device, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
