Wingate, N.C.----The fall of 2011 has been a tremendous semester for the women’s soccer team at Wingate. Completing this season with an overall record of 16-4, we finished second during the South Atlantic Conference regular season. The team also accomplished two firsts for the Bulldog women’s soccer program: winning the SAC tournament championship title and qualifying for the NCAA Division II soccer tournament, where we played our first round game against North Georgia in Savannah.
 
Although the team did not advance, we set the bar for future Wingate women’s soccer teams to follow. As this was my final season, along with my fellow senior teammates Kelly Adams, Casey King, Hannah Holsclaw and Stefanie Schroeder, it was a great feeling to end our four years on the field with such an impressive season. Over the four years, there have been ups and downs, from running in torrential downpours in the spring season to funny pictures on bus rides home. Certainly, we can’t forget how it seems the whole team has a hidden talent for singing as long as it is “I Believe I Can Fly.” This season was a one for the record books, which will always be remembered by the team and coaches and, we hope, by the whole school.
 
The Wingate women’s soccer team has not only worked hard to achieve success in the classroom and on the field, but when it comes to the community we have always been willing to work even harder to give back. We always begin the season by helping out with the United Way Day of Caring. This year, we helped out by doing yard work and cleaning windows for a wonderful Monroe resident.
 
Following the conclusion of our season, we also like to give back at Christmas time. Each year, we help out by filling stockings of toys, schools supplies and even hats and mittens for children. Each of the girls gets their own stocking and we decide if we want to make it for a girl or a boy. We determine an age depending on the essentials in the stocking. We as a team enjoy giving back to the community whether its yard work or making a child smile on Christmas day. It’s the little things in life we are grateful for and we will do as much as we can to be winners on the field and in the community.
 
WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a comprehensive university with more than 2,500 students on three campuses in Wingate, Matthews and Hendersonville, N.C. The university offers 34 undergraduate majors, 37 minors and career concentrations, numerous pre-professional programs, graduate degrees in business, accounting, physician assistant studies and sports administration and doctorates in pharmacy and education.
 
Wingate students gain the tools and support they need to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. The campus community offers in-class learning, out-of-class experiences, strong mentors, a competitive yet caring environment and rewarding community service opportunities for a complete educational experience.
 
Bulldog student-athletes compete in 19 NCAA Division II sports. Wingate University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past five years.
 
Wingate University is ranked number three among NCAA Division II Academic All-America® producing schools in the 2000’s with 40 honorees during this millennium. Only Pittsburg State (Kan.) University and Truman State (Mo.) University have produced more Academic All-America® honorees during this time period. Wingate’s 49 Academic All-America® honorees (lifetime) is tops among all SAC schools.