BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The top two offenses in the Big South squared off on Saturday night, but Gardner-Webb turned aside Longwood after a fast-paced match that featured 33 combined shots and four goals.
 
Gardner-Webb (4-3-1 overall, 1-0 Big South) came out crisp and used a strong opening half that proved to be the difference. The Runnin' Bulldogs fired off a season-high 13 shots in the first 45 minutes on the way to a two-goal lead in the eventual 3-1 win.
 
Meanwhile, Longwood (3-4 overall, 0-1 Big South) ratcheted up the pressure in the second half and outshot Gardner-Webb 12-6, but the rally came up short. Six different players fired off shots, but Chase Quinn was the only one who struck it true.
 
"It was an uncharacteristic first half that put us in a hole, and while we turned it around after half, we should have never found ourselves in that position," said head coach Jon Atkinson. "Disappointed? Yes, very, but this is part and parcel of a young team that needs to adjust to a game and its conditions as well as grow in areas to become that seasoned, disciplined team that play consistently."
 
"We have played well thus far, so one bad game doesn't define us, but there is a call to action to right the ship Tuesday."
 
At the start of the game, the Runnin' Bulldogs came out shooting and ripped the first five shots of the game. The fifth shot found the back of the net as Hendrik Kortgodde broke open the scoring in the 20^th minute. The Lancers weathered the storm afterwards, but a backbreaker came in the 41^st minute off the foot Abel Gebrekiros. He notched his third goal of the season for a 2-0 lead at the half.
 
Longwood locked in and answered with pressure after halftime, and the Lancers ripped off five shots in the first five minutes of the second half but came up empty. Quinn finally broke through with his first collegiate goal in the 79^th minute off a corner kick by Markus Gronli. The senior nodded it into the left side of the goal to cut the lead to 2-1.
 
With less than five minutes to play, the Lancers pressed forward for the equalizer. Mikel Abando had a shot blocked that led to a Gronli corner kick again, but Gardner-Webb stood tall and scored a goal on a counter by Pedro Benito to put the game out of reach.
 
The Lancers head back to Farmville for a two-game homestand that starts with a non-conference tilt against in-state foe George Mason on Tuesday, October 1. The team dives back into conference play next Saturday against Presbyterian.
 
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