BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—In his first season as Gardner-Webb’s head men’s soccer coach, Jonathan Lagos has the Runnin’ Bulldogs one win away from a Big South Conference championship. The No. 2 seed Bulldogs will host No. 5 seed Longwood in the Big South Championship Match on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. under the lights at Greene-Harbison Stadium. The team is also seeking its second NCAA Tournament appearance in three seasons.
Gardner-Webb earned that opportunity on Nov. 8 with a 3-0 victory over No. 6 seed USC Upstate in the semifinal round of the Big South Conference Tournament at Greene-Harbison Stadium.
Named head men’s soccer coach in December 2025, Lagos has guided Gardner-Webb to its first home Big South Championship Match since 2011. The Nov. 14 contest also marks the program’s first opportunity to host the conference title game since the conference adopted its higher-seed hosting format in 2012.
In the semifinal victory over USC Upstate, the Bulldogs wasted little time asserting themselves on their home pitch. Tim Kreuzpeintner put Gardner-Webb on the board in the ninth minute with an unassisted goal, giving the hosts an early 1-0 lead. Gardner-Webb continued to apply pressure throughout the first half, outshooting USC Upstate 8-5 and taking the one-goal advantage into the break.
Gardner-Webb maintained control after halftime and added to its lead in the 73rd minute. Kreuzpeintner collected assists from Jacobo Gonzalez and Nico Triguero before finding the back of the net for his second goal of the match and 10th of the season.
The Bulldogs added an insurance goal 10 minutes later when Triguero scored in the 83rd minute off an assist from goalkeeper Oliver Weng, extending the lead to 3-0 and sealing Gardner-Webb’s place in the championship match.
Kreuzpeintner finished with a brace, while Triguero contributed a goal and an assist. Weng recorded four saves to preserve the clean sheet and added the first assist by a Gardner-Webb goalkeeper this season.
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Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Become More at gardner-webb.edu.
