ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA — Gardner-Webb defeated UNC Asheville 2-1 on Saturday, improving to 12-2-2 with a dominant second-half performance. The Runnin' Bulldogs, ranked among the nation's elite at Division I, broke through after halftime to secure the road victory before a sparse crowd. UNC Asheville, now 7-6-2, couldn't overcome an early deficit despite pulling level midway through the match.
Arnor Hardarson gave the hosts an early advantage in the 34th minute, capitalizing on Gardner-Webb's defensive lapses to put UNC Asheville ahead. The goal appeared to energize the home side, which controlled stretches of the first half with aggressive pressing. Gardner-Webb struggled to generate consistent offensive rhythm early, with multiple attempts from Samson Kpardeh, Leo Andrade, and Tiago Campos sailing wide or high.
The second half told a different story. Samson Kpardeh equalized in the 73rd minute, assisted by Jaylen Orr, as Gardner-Webb's attacking prowess finally materialized. Just three minutes later, Kpardeh struck again in the 76th minute with Filipe Moreira providing the assist, giving the visitors a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish. The quick succession of goals reflected Gardner-Webb's superior fitness and tactical adjustments after the interval.
Gardner-Webb dominated the statistical battle, recording 21 shot attempts compared to UNC Asheville's nine. The Runnin'