BOILING SPRING, N.C. – Manuel Prieto scored in his first career appearance to lift Campbell to a 1-0 victory Wednesday at Gardner-Webb.
 
Samuel Lechuga recorded his 21st career shutout for the Camels (7-2-1, 5-1-1), who won their fourth-straight contest overall and recorded their third consecutive clean sheet in Big South Conference play.
 
"I'm immensely proud of this group," said Campbell head coach Dustin Fonder. "We went in more than shorthanded, but we took an all hands on deck mentality, and I'm happy they got the result they earned."
 
With six players out due to Covid-19 protocols, five Camels made their first appearance of the season and four – Prieto, Gerard Broussard, Demario Cameron and Damian Rogers – played in their first Division I match.
 
A freshman from Dalton, Ga., Prieto scored on his first collegiate touch.  Braden Teller drove a low shot that forced a diving save and Teller knocked in the rebound in the 40th minute.
 
Lechuga was tested twice in the final half – on a reaction save off a header in the 68th minute – and again in the final 10 when he came off his line to gather a loose ball in the area.  He moved into a tie with Aaron Johnson (2005-08) for second place on Campbell's all-time shutouts list.  Peter Moore (1986-89) owns the record with 24 clean sheets.
 
Ranked No. 9 in this week's South Region poll, Campbell improved to 17-1-2 in its last 20 matches against Big South competition and 6-0-1 in its last seven vs. Gardner-Webb.  CU ran its goal differential in league play this season to 22-4.
 
The Camels clinched at least third place in the Big South standings and could move into second with a win Saturday evening at Radford.
 
NOTES: Regular season champ High Point will host the fourth seed in the Big South semifinal round on Wed. Apr. 17 at 6:00 p.m., while the second seed will host the third seed at the same time.  The highest remaining seed will host the Big South final Apr. 17 at 6 p.m. with the league's automatic berth in the NCAA College Cup at stake… Thirteen different Camels have scored this year, while 14 different CU players have at least one assist…