MATTHEWS, N.C. - Campbell and Gardner-Webb played to a 1-1 draw through regulation and two overtime periods before the Runnin' Bulldogs advanced to Sunday's Big South Championship final following a penalty kick shootout.
"Playoffs. Anything can happen in playoffs and they often do," head coach Jeff Gross said following the match. "Our team put together another very good effort with a lot of quality in it, and we just came up a little bit short."
After both sides played to a draw for the second time this season, fourth-seeded Gardner-Webb (9-6-5) will move on to Sunday's 1 p.m. Big South final and face the winner of second-seeded USC Upstate or third-seeded Radford at the Matthews Sportsplex.
In the penalty kick shootout, the Runnin' Bulldogs missed their first attempt before Maddie Turlington, Alli Varga, Lea Gossett and Klara Ovefelt all converted their attempts. Jessica Donald, Jackie Richards and Kaleigh Backlund all converted penalty kicks for the Camels while Delaney Baumbick and Cazzi Norgren had their attempts ricochet off the crossbar.
The Camels took the lead 40th minute as Mary Tierney had her cross into the box deflected out to Richards who passed to an unchecked Norgren, who scored on a shot from deep.
The back-to-back Big South regular season champion Camels outshot GWU 9-1 in the first half, led by three shots from Reagan Baiotto.
Gardner-Webb evened the match in the 73rd minute as Carina Leal curled in a corner kick attempt into the goal.
Backlund, Richards and Donald each put a shot on goal over the final ten minutes but Gardner-Webb keeper Chloe Leffler saved each shot. Both teams failed to put a shot on frame across the two overtime periods until Olivia Neal's shot in the 108th minute.
CU finished with a 21-12 edge on shots while both sides finished knotted 4-4 on corner kicks.
"This group of seniors has a lot to be proud of as they have forged a path for this program that many will be able to ride upon going forward," Gross continued. "I'm very proud of our group."
Campbell stands at 34-6-4 against Big South foes since 2019.
