Spartanburg, S.C.- Wofford men's soccer began their 2023 season on the wrong end of a close match to Gardner-Webb, falling in Boiling Springs, North Carolina 1-0 on Thursday, August 24.

The first half was characterized by physical play from both teams that resulted in only one shot on goal for either team. Gardner-Webb committed nine fouls in the first half to Wofford's seven, but it was junior defender Moa Mohammedi that earned the first booking of the game, being shown a yellow card in the 42nd minute for unsporting behavior.

Senior Thaddeus Dennis ripped the first shot for either team at the 36:19 mark but was unable to put it past Runnin' Bulldog goalkeeper Alan Johnson. Wofford returned the favor, denying Gardner-Webb's Jaylen Orr, who scored the deciding goal in last season's matchup, a chance to put his team on the board and instead senior Terrier Goalkeeper Cameron Victor tallied the first of his four saves of the night and insured a 0-0 draw at the half.

Victor did his part to hold the Gardner-Webb attack at bay in the second half, saving two shots in a 30 second span in the 73rd minute before finally conceding a goal to GWU's Leonardo Andrade in the 76th minute.

Following the goal, the physicality boiled over and forced the officials to book multiple players from both teams. Junior Kameron Gorst was shown a yellow for unsporting behavior in the 89th minute and an unspecified card was shown to Wofford in the 87th minute. Sophomore Nathan Childress would also find himself booked during the game. Four Runnin' Bulldogs would be
booked in the half, three of whom were after the deciding goal was scored.

Up next for the men they will return home for their home opener against Charlotte on Monday, August 28 at 7 PM at Snyder Field.