BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – A late goal from Gardner-Webb midfielder Stina Kleppe gave the Runnin' Bulldogs just enough to overcome Longwood 1-0 in a defensive struggle Saturday evening in the regular-season finale at Greene-Harbison Stadium.
 
After the Lancers (6-8-2, 4-4-2 Big South) and Bulldogs (8-10-1, 6-4 Big South) traded blows throughout a scoreless first 73 minutes of the game, Kleppe punched in the game's only goal by converting a pass from Maddie Turlington from the edge of the 18.
 
Gardner-Webb sank back and walled off their own goal the rest of the way, holding Longwood without a shot to the final whistle. The victory vaulted the Runnin' Bulldogs into fourth place in the Big South standings, earning them quarterfinal hosting duties in the 2019 Big South Championship.
 
Longwood, meanwhile, settles into sixth place and will take on Big South rival Radford this Saturday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m., in a rematch of a game Longwood won 1-0 in Farmville earlier this season.
 
"Tough conditions tonight with a thick surface and steady rain, but both teams had to deal with it," Longwood head coach Todd Dyer said. "Gardner-Webb was very direct and effective with that style, so credit to them. Now if we plan on achieving something in postseason we simply have to finish our chances and win individual and position battles in all third of the field."
 
Kleppe's goal provided the lone offensive highlight of the night, but it was the battles in the midfield and backfield that took center stage Saturday. The teams combined for just 11 shots on goal as those units matched up in a showdown between two of the Big South's top five defensive squads.
 
Garnder-Webb entered the game allowing just three goals in its past five home games and continued that streak by limiting Longwood's frontline to just four shots on goal, all of which goalkeeper Katelyn Kellogg saved. A four-woman backline spearheaded that effort with Ella Bianco, Jaasiel Forde and Gabby Berkes all playing 90 minutes apiece.
 
Meanwhile the Lancers were able to match that effort on their own end well into the second half, thanks to a six-save night from goalkeeper Madison Van Dyke and the defensive trio of Taylor Alvey, Tori Gagliardi and Erica Sieben. That group turned away the first five of Gardner-Webb's shots on goal, but the sixth from Kleppe broke through for the game-winner.
 
The loss ends Longwood's regular season at .500 in the Big South and sets up the Lancers for a quarterfinal showdown Saturday at 7 p.m. Longwood has advanced to the semifinals of the tournament in two of the past three seasons, including a championship game appearance in 2017.
 
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