Sunday, October 16, 2005

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (October 16, 2005) - It took 101 minutes and 57 seconds, and two overtimes to decide the outcome of Sunday's women's soccer match, pitting East Tennessee State against Gardner-Webb, at the Liberty Bell Soccer Complex.  Just 1:57 into the second overtime, Gardner-Webb's Maureen Foley headed a Leeanna Woodworth corner kick into the back of the Buccaneer net, claiming the 2-1 win in Atlantic Sun Conference action.

With the loss the Bucs fall to 7-8-0, 4-4-0 in A-Sun, while the Bulldogs improve to 6-7-0, 4-3-0 in Conference play.  It was just the second time in program history the teams have matched up, with GWU coming out on top of both contests.

The Bulldogs showed that they came to play early on, netting their first score just 40 seconds into first period, as Lindsey Gladhill sent a cross to Woodworth, who headed the ball past ETSU goalie Erin Bilyeu (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) for the 1-0 lead.  The Bulldogs would outshoot the Bucs, 7-5, in the first period.

"We didn't play our game and got caught up in their system during the first half," said ETSU mentor Heather Henson.  "We were able to focus and be more disciplined in the second half.  We stayed with our system and got a goal out of it."

The Buccaneers held the Bulldogs scoreless for the rest of regulation, scoring a goal of their own on a long arcing shot off the foot of sophomore Katie O'Bryan (Hampton, Va.) at the 53:53 mark, knotting the score at a goal apiece.  The unassisted score was the first of the season for O'Bryan.  The ETSU offense woke up in the second frame, posting nine shots to GWU's three.    

"We were unlucky on corners and had a couple near misses," said Henson.  "We need to convert on the opportunities we're given, because we're not going to get too many against good teams like Gardner-Webb."

The Bucs came out on the attack in the first overtime, with Adrian Mobley (Framingham, Mass.) sending a shot wide at the 90:10 mark, followed by an attempt by freshman Ashley Craig (Lakeland, Fla.) that was saved by Bulldog net minder Corinne Razem.  Razem was tough in goal all day, making nine saves.  The Bucs held the Bulldogs to one shot in the first extra frame.  However, the Bucs were unable to convert on the period's lone corner kick.

Junior Emily Fulcher (New Bern, N.C.) led the Buccaneer offense with four shots, while senior Erin Ashton (New Bern, N.C.) and Mobley each posted three shots.  The Bucs totaled 16 shots on the game.  Bilyeu notched three saves, going the distance in the Buccaneer goal.

Woodworth controlled the Bulldog attack, recording five shots, followed by Gladhill with three.  The Bulldogs tallied 13 shots on the day.

The Bucs, amid a four-game homestand, are set to host South Carolina State on Wednesday, Oct. 19, beginning at 7:00 p.m., at Liberty Bell, followed by a home Conference tilt against Florida Atlantic, slated for Sunday, Oct. 23, at 1:00 p.m.