GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Furman women's lacrosse team opened Big South Conference play Wednesday evening with a 15-5 victory over the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs at Paladin Stadium.
Furman improves to 7-2 overall and 1-0 in the Big South. With the loss, Gardner-Webb drops to 0-9 on the season and 0-1 in league play.
Paige Harman, who also became the ninth player in program history to reach 100 career goals, guided the Paladin offense with career highs of eight points and five goals while adding three assists.
Anna Roser totaled five points on three goals and two assists, and
Sofija Buzelis added four goals and nine draws.
Lily Toole scored twice to go with an assist.
Audrey Smith tied her career high of three ground balls and
Skylar Hilmer and
Andrea Fisher both caused two turnovers.
Goalie
Sailor Henderson came off the bench to earn the win after finishing with five saves and one ground ball.
Gianna Nardini and Jules Brown both led the Runnin' Bulldogs with two goals apiece, and Ella Grace Bishop and Jonni Saluppo dished out one assist each. Goalie Emma Anderson registered 10 saves.
Furman outscored Gardner-Webb 10-1 in the second half and scored seven times in the fourth quarter to improve to 4-0 in Big South openers since moving to the conference in 2022.
The Paladins trailed 4-2 with 4:58 remaining in the second quarter before scoring the final three goals to lead 5-4 at halftime. The three goals were part of a 9-0 run for Furman that stretched nearly 25 minutes as it built an 11-4 advantage at the 11:08 mark of the fourth quarter on Buzelis' third goal of the contest. Following the Runnin' Bulldogs first goal since the second quarter, the Paladins scored four straight times over the final 7:42 to collect the 10-goal triumph.
Furman outshot Gardner-Webb 31-13 and held a 19-14 advantage in ground balls and 16-7 in draws. The Paladins forced the Runnin' Bulldogs into 16 turnovers.
Furman hits the road for the first time in conference play next week heading to Wofford and High Point. The Paladins travel to Wofford on Wednesday, April 2 and High Point on Friday, April 4.
