On Thursday night the Gardner‑Webb women’s soccer team traveled to face Wofford College in a tightly contested contest that would decide the final chapter of their season.
Freshman goalkeeper Abril Montiel rose to the occasion, delivering eight saves — including a season‑high performance that kept the Bulldogs in the game until the dying moments.
The most promising opportunity came in the 40th minute when Andrei Kaithlyn Chavez found herself with a clear shot, only to see her rebound attempt drift wide, leaving the scoreboard untouched.
The Final Blow
Wofford broke the deadlock in the 79th minute, striking a decisive goal that shifted momentum and left Gardner‑Webb scrambling for an equaliser that never materialised.
The Bulldogs managed just six shots on target in the opening half and were forced to play the full 90 minutes with four of their starters — Montiel, Peyton O'Linn, Ellie Breitenstein and Sarah Birchall — staying on the pitch until the final whistle.
Despite a valiant effort, Gardner‑Webb were unable to answer the late strike, sealing a 1‑0 defeat and concluding a campaign that ended with a 2‑2 overall record.