Boiling Springs, N.C. – Two first half goals proved to be enough for the Runnin’ Bulldogs, as Gardner-Webb picked up a 2-1 win over UNC Asheville in the “Battle of the Bulldogs” on Wednesday night in Boiling Springs, N.C.

With the win, Gardner-Webb improves to 8-5-1 overall and finished the conference regular season at 4-3-1.  The loss drops UNCA to 6-8-2 overall and 2-3-1 in the Big South.

Gardner-Webb junior George Tasedan picked a great time to score his first goal of the season, as less than five minutes into the match, the midfielder received a cross in the box from teammate Romeo Kabanda and fired a shot into the back of the net, giving GWU a 1-0 advantage.

With the 1-0 lead, Gardner-Webb pushed its lead out to two in the 29th minute, as Gerard Hefferon picked up a deflected ball in front of the right post off a Tasedan shot, put foot to leather and scored his ninth goal of the season to give the Runnin’ Bulldogs a 2-0 lead.

That lead would stand for the remainder of the first half, but not long after, as UNCA got on the board 51 seconds into the second half.

The Bulldogs’ Zachary Odum made a pass to teammate Alex Koslick, who beat a Gardner-Webb defender and put a shot past GWU keeper Trent Kozman for his first goal of the season, cutting the GWU lead to one at 2-1.

However, the Runnin’ Bulldogs of Gardner-Webb outshot the UNCA Bulldogs 16-3 in the second half and 27-9 for the match, continuing to put pressure on the UNCA defense and goalkeeper Lassi Hurskainen.

Kozman had four saves for the match, picking up his eighth win of the season, while Hurskainen of UNCA had eight stops for the match.

GWU’s Tasedan ended the match with four points, picking up a goal and an assist in the first 45 minutes of play.  Kabanda tallied his sixth assist on the season, while Hefferon recorded his ninth goal for the year.

An exciting night awaits the Bulldogs on Saturday night, as GWU will have two special presentations during its 6 p.m. match with the Appalachian State Mountaineers.  Prior to the contest, Gardner-Webb will recognize its three seniors – Jordan Gaines, Mark Webster and Gerard Hefferon.

At halftime, the Gardner-Webb men’s soccer program, along with Gardner-Webb University President Dr. A. Frank Bonner, will hold a ceremony to honor a fallen Bulldog in Jordan Traylor. Traylor, who was a member of the GWU men’s soccer team from 2003-2007, died unexpectedly in December 2008.  The Gardner-Webb family will hold a ceremony to retire Traylor’s number, number 16, in remembrence and recognition of Jordan’s contributions to both the men’s soccer program and the University community.