Oct. 14, 2006
Box Score
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - On the strength of two goals by Laura Tucker, the Kennesaw State women's soccer team defeated Gardner-Webb, 3-0, on Saturday afternoon.
The Owls (10-1-2 overall, 6-0-1 conference) have now won six straight and stretch their unbeaten streak to 11 matches, the longest since the 2003. With the loss, GWU falls to 8-6-2 and 2-4-2 in the Atlantic Sun.
Tucker got the Owls on the scoreboard in the 18th minute when she broke loose and launched a shot from 10 yards out that was saved by GWU goalkeeper Sarah Wyszynski. However, the Tuscaloosa, Alabama native followed her rebound and promptly played it past Wyszynski for an early 1-0 lead.
Following the goal, the game became more of a midfield battle and the teams traded possessions. Nothing came to fruition for either, however, as the Owls went into halftime with the one-goal lead.
The Owls continued to apply pressure and were rewarded in the 58th minute when they tallied their second goal of the match. Whitney Marler started the attack from the back and passed the ball to Sara Clapham in the near right corner. Clapham turned and fired a pass into the box where a cutting Tucker headed the ball just inside the post for a 2-0 lead.
Less than a minute later, Pip Meo scored her first goal of the year after gathering a ball from Clapham and promptly playing it past a diving Wyszynski to seal the 3-0 victory.
The Bulldogs best opportunities to score came just inside the 71st minute when Lindsey Gladhill got the ball at the top left of the box. With Owls' goalkeeper Staci Pugh playing the near post, Gladhill launched a hard shot along the ground to the far post. However, Pugh was narrowly able to get a hand on the ball, deflecting it just inches wide right of the goal.
Then seconds later, Gardner-Webb's Nicole Reis blasted a shot that looked like it was going in. However, an Owl defender booted the ball away from the goal line. Junior Tiffany Greene came up with the loose ball and fired a shot of her own only to be turned away by Pugh.
Pugh finished the match with three saves to record her league-leading ninth shutout. Wyszynski made two saves before being pulled in the 78th minute for Kim Scercy.
The Owls now return home for their final three regular-season matches, beginning with an October 20 match versus Lipscomb.
