BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Freshman midfielder Jackson Wrobel net his first career goal on Tuesday evening to lift the Wofford men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Gardner-Webb (0-4) at Greene-Harbison Stadium. Wrobel found the back of the net in the match's opening minutes, as the Terriers held the Runnin' Bulldogs scoreless through 90 minutes to secure their first win of the 2021 season.
 
Additionally, the win marks the first over Gardner-Webb since Sept. 2, 2016.
 
Wrobel, a native of Madison, Alabama, led the Terriers with a goal on his lone shot of the night, while junior Brandon Oddy and freshman Christoffer Saietz added shots on goal for the match. Senior Mitchell Myers and junior Alex Dennis round out the Terriers' shot-takers with one shot each on the night.
 
Junior goalkeeper Joshua Old recorded two saves on the night to record his first clean sheet of the season.
 
Wofford struck first within the first 10 minutes of play, as Jackson Wrobel gave the Terriers the early advantage with his first career goal in the seventh minute. Nic Parker would chase down a ball down to gain possession down the Gardner-Webb sideline, as Brandon Oddy then placed a beautiful ball for Wrobel entering the box, seeing the freshman side-step a Gardner-Webb defender and laser a close-range shot in to lead 1-0.
 
The Terriers continued to press on in looking to capitalize on the early momentum, as Mitchell Myers would wiggle through the defense to feed Oddy for a strike within the right side of the box moments later (9'), though, Gardner-Webb keeper Mallel Rios batted down the shot for the save. Christoffer Saietz added Wofford's third shot on goal later in the 19^th minute, letting a shot go from roughly 30 yards out that would take a couple hops before meeting Rios in the box.
 
The Wofford defensive line stayed consistent through the opening frame, defending three Gardner-Webb corner kicks before the Runnin' Bulldogs found their first clean look that would cruise wide left after a corner in the 23^rd minute. The Runnin' Bulldogs would sail another shot wide shortly after in the 27^th minute, as the Wofford press did a solid job of keeping the ball out their half and limiting opportunities with no shots on goal through the first half.
 
Gardner-Webb opened the second half nearly finding the equalizer in the 52^nd minute, as a Runnin' Bulldog would find a burst of speed entering the box from the left wing before dishing for a wide open Ryan Madondo shot within 12 yards that struck the left side of the net. Gardner-Webb continued to find chances, as the Terriers would gain another sigh of relief after Old made a crucial save on a shot directly in front of goal made by a cutting Odal Brown in the 54^th minute to remain with the 1-0 edge.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs controlled the early portion of the second half, holding a majority of the possession, as a Wofford foul just outside the penalty box produced another Joshua Old save on a free-kick shot in the 68^th minute. On the ensuing goal kick, Wofford found itself back on the attack after corralling possession en route to an Alex Dennis shot inside the box that would be blocked in the 72^nd minute.
 
From there, the Terriers then began to take control of possession again, gaining advantages throughout the latter stages of the match, though, mainly looking to suppress any Gardner-Webb opportunities to find rhythm. The Runnin' Bulldogs scrambled to try and regain possession, summoning a plethora of fouls in the midst, as Wofford remained poised for the remainder of the contest to hold on for the 1-0 victory at the end of regulation.
 
Next, Wofford (1-2) returns back to its home pitch in hosting UNC Asheville at Snyder Field on Saturday, September 11, for a 7 p.m. matchup.