BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Kaleigh Backlund celebrated her Senior Day with two goals to help the Campbell women's soccer team to a 4-0 victory over Gardner-Webb Sunday afternoon at Eakes Athletics Complex.
After the match, the program honored seniors Backlund, Kendall Lincoln, Rieke Protze and Riley Terrill. Also recognized was Sage Dougherty, who had been a member of the team the previous three seasons.
The Camels (2-3-3) earned their 15th win over Gardner-Webb (1-5-1) in what is now the most-played series in Campbell women's soccer history.
The scoring started early for the Camels, as Adele Schwab found herself alone at the end of a corner kick from Abby Connolly in the sixth minute, and she headed it in just out of reach of Runnin' Bulldogs keeper Stephanie Liu.
Backlund scored her first of the evening just two and a half minutes later. Alyssa Tucker carried the ball down the sideline and into the box before leaving it off for Backlund, who played a beautiful looping shot from the top of the box under the crossbar.
Campbell earned their first three-goal lead of the season in the 23rd minute. Backlund once again found herself in the box with possession and drew a foul against a GWU defender. Backlund took the penalty kick herself, and placed it cooly into the bottom left corner, with the keeper diving the opposite way.
Backlund now leads the Camels with four goals on the season, doubling her previous total.
Campbell found their final goal of the game in the 48th minute. Abygaelle Normand sent a free kick towards the top of the six-yard box, and the ball was batted around before it came to the feet of Natalie Darling to the right of goal. She calmly passed it across the face of goal, and Alyssa Tucker neatly passed it into the top right corner.
Tucker and Backlund have been productive in the attack, leading the Camels with eight points through non-conference action.
Campbell held the corner kick advantage, 7-4, and shots (14-7), but proved more effective with their chances as each team ended the match with five shots on goal.
JLo Varada played the full 90 minutes in goal for the second consecutive match, and she ended the game with five saves.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Jeff Gross & Kaleigh Backlund
UP NEXT
The Camels have a week and a half break from action before opening CAA play on the road against UNCW on September 19. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:00 at UNCW Soccer Stadium, and it will be broadcast on FloSports.
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