BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The Fighting Camels (10-7-0, 5-3-0 BSC) are headed to Boiling Springs, N.C. this weekend as they take on the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs (9-7-2, 6-2-0 BSC) for their last match of the regular season. Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. at the Greene-Harbison Stadium.
Campbell is coming off a 1-0 victory over the Longwood Lancers in its last home game of the regular season. Senior midfielder Payton Ormsby tallied the eventual game-winner in the 22nd minute of play off a long pass from freshman defender Callie Beckwith. The score was Ormsby's seventh of the season, while Beckwith was credited with the third assist of her young career.
With the win over the Lancers, the Camels clinched a top-8 spot to qualify for the Big South Tournament. Saturday's match will undoubtedly have implications on both teams' tournament seeding as CU currently sits fourth in the Big South with 15 points while GWU is at the top of the standings with 18 points.
Campbell and Gardner-Webb have a lot of history going into the match, facing each other 17 times since 2001. The Camels hold a 9-7-1 record over the Bulldogs with the most recent matchup coming last season, a 2-1 victory for GWU.
The Runnin' Bulldogs have been on a hot streak in conference play, winning their last five matches over Liberty, Radford, UNC Asheville, Winthrop and Charleston Southern. Over that stretch, Gardner-Webb has outscored its opponents, 9-1. GWU is led statistically by senior midfielder Brandi Arey, who has recorded a team-high six goals, five assists and 17 points this season.
Gardner-Webb is coached by Mike Varga, who owns a 17-17-4 overall record in his second season at GWU. Last season, Varga led GWU to an 8-10-2 record and its first conference tournament appearance since the 2011 season.
Following the contest, the Camels will continue training in preparation for the first round of the Big South tournament. A date and time for that matchup will be determined after all games are completed and the tournament bracket is released.
