CLINTON, S.C. – Tallying the second multi-goal performance of her young career to propel the Presbyterian College women's soccer team to a 2-0 triumph over Gardner-Webb on Wednesday night,
Sloan Spees and co. picked up their first Big South Conference W of the fall at Martin Stadium in a one-sided affair that tipped to their favor.
Outshooting the Runnin' Bulldogs 19-4 which translated to their second defensive shutout of the campaign, PC snatched its first win over G-W in a full decade, shaking the cobwebs off what had been a shaky opening half of league dates.
On an evening where Presbyterian partnered with the Laurens County Cancer Association in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month, a pink-littered audience in Clinton witnessed a precise offensive showing for head coach
Brian Purcell's club where Spees was the star of the show.
Both of the sophomore's successful boots – occurring in the 15
th and 60
th minutes – were assisted by classmate Lina-Marie Müller, allowing the Blue Hose plenty of space to reach their second triumph of the season.
They'll hope to keep Wednesday's momentum going over the back half of the league slate, visiting Winthrop up next in a rare Monday bout at 6:00 PM.
FINAL SCORE: Presbyterian, 2 – Gardner-Webb, 0
RECORDS: Presbyterian (2-9-1, 1-3) – Gardner-Webb (2-9-1, 0-3)
LOCATION: Edens Field at Martin Stadium (Clinton, S.C.)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Junior keeper
Kelly Hall obtained her fourth career win by staying in the box for the full 90, limiting the Runnin' Bulldogs to minimal looks at the net that were all thwarted when they arose.
- Hall's teammates on the other side of the field made life a bit easier as well, never letting their foot off the gas pedal with 11 first-half shots and five corner kick opportunities that all came in the first 45 minutes.
- Spees (a 2022 Big South all-freshman teamer) secured her second and third goals of the semester as PC rolled past their North Carolinian foes. Each time that Spees has recorded a score on the year, her squad has ended the contest with a W.
- The conference clash stayed at zeros for all of 14 minutes and 43 seconds until Müller placed a perfect longball for Spees to zoom past G-W's defenses, repeating that result again after the halftime break that served as the dagger.
- On all three days where the Blue Hose have mustered a pair of goals in 2023, the result has read either a tie or an outright victory. That trend continued after Spees, Müller,
Lindsey Malyszek, and
Gwen Keiser all assembled at least two shot tries to keep Gardner-Webb on their heels constantly.
- Not only did PC accomplish a potential season-changing win in the midweek tussle, but so too did the group find the return of junior forward
Sarah Dieffenderfer, who came off the Blue Hose bench after missing the previous nine matches due to injury.
UP NEXT
- Next week's trip to Rock Hill will signal the start of the final four Big South encounters for Purcell's party, hoping to gain a dip of revenge following consecutive one-goal setbacks versus the Eagles dating back to '21.
- While Presbyterian was busy pounding Gardner-Webb, Winthrop posted a 1-1 draw against Charleston Southern in a bout where both goals were cemented within five minutes of each other nearing the first period's close.
- ESPN+ will have the broadcast for the next chapter in the Palmetto State rivalry.
