Wingate University senior defender Alex Nelson (Newcastle, England) anchored the nation's top-ranked defense throughout the historic NCAA Tournament run, leading the Bulldogs to their first-ever NCAA national title.Â
An NSCAA and D2CCA first team All-American this year, Nelson led the Wingate defense to five shutouts in the NCAA Tournament, capped with a pair of shutouts against top-10 opponents in last week's Final Four. The Bulldogs #10 UC San Diego to nine shots and just two shots on goal in the national semifinal victory. Charleston has the nation's second-ranked offense, but could only get eight shots off against the Bulldogs and only two shots on frame in the national title match.Â
Wingate finished the season as the national leader in goals-against average and winning percentage. The Bulldogs allowed just eight goals in 20 matches this season, finishing the season 19-1. The only team in all of NCAA men's soccer to go unbeaten and untied in the regular season, the Bulldogs held the opposition to just 6.6 shots per game. Wingate's title run included wins over teams ranked number two, four, six and nine in the final NSCAA top 25.Â
