BUIES CREEK, N.C.- Campbell looks to earn its first league victory
and spoil Gardner-Webb's hopes of making the Atlantic Sun
tournament, Wednesday, Oct. 31, in a 6 p.m. tilt in Boiling
Springs. Campbell (1-12-2,
0-8-2 A-Sun) is 3-3-1 in the lifetime series against Gardner-Webb
(6-11-0, 4-6-0 A-Sun), with every meeting decided by one goal or
less.
Although the Camels dropped a pair of 0-1 decisions last week at
the hands of league leaders Kennesaw State and Mercer, keeper Anna
DiTommaso was solid totaling ten saves in the two matches. Campbell's defense was stingy
for 88 minutes until the Owls broke the game's scoreless drought
with a penalty kick, which proved to be the game winner. The Bears struck early, and
played solid defense for the remainder of the game and didn't allow
a Campbell shot for 85 minutes to earn a record-breaking
11th victory of the season.
Gardner-Webb enters Wednesday's match in a do-or-die situation,
needing a victory and some help from Florida Gulf Coast to have a
chance to play in next month's A-Sun tournament. If Gardner-Webb earns a victory
Wednesday, and FGCU drops Stetson Saturday, the Bulldogs and
Hatters would both have a 5-6-0 league record. Gardner-Webb defeated Stetson 2-1 on
Oct. 4, which gives the Bulldogs the head-to-head advantage.
The Bulldogs are led by senior forward Lindsey Gladhill. A 2006 second-team
all-conference selection, Gladhill leads Gardner-Webb in nearly
every offensive category including points (18), goals (9), game
winning goals (2) and shots (79). Sophomore midfielder Sarah Keyser has
also been vital for the Bulldogs adding a pair of goals and four
assists.
Three different keepers have seen time this year for Gardner-Webb,
but Sarah Wyszynski has been a mainstay recording 33 saves en route
to two shutout performances.
Campbell's defense has allowed just 25 goals this season, while the
Bulldogs have suffered 36 opposing strikes.
The last time Campbell took the field for Halloween was against
Gardner-Webb in 2002. The
Camels came out on top 3-2.
