Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs open their conference schedule against the Pioneers of Tusculum College Saturday night at 7 p.m. The Bulldogs enter the game with a 4-1 record and four-game winning streak. The Pioneers are 5-1-1 overall and 1-1 in the South Atlantic Conference.

Their last time out, the Bulldogs claimed a dramatic 2-1 victory at Lander. Junior Nyemb got the scoring started with a goal at the 29:44 mark. The Bearcats tied it late in the first half. Adam Cunningham would net the game-winner with 2:30 remaining in regulation to extend Wingate’s winning streak. Before the Lander game, Wingate notched a 4-1 win over Barton. Paulo Brunetto, Luke Mulholland, Nyemb and Paul Gallagher each had a goal in the home victory.

Nyemb leads the Bulldogs and ranks in the top 10 in the SAC with four goals and eight points. Brunetto is second on the team with three goals while Jamie McKenna has two goals and an assist on the year. Goalkeeper Joey Calandra is third in the league with a 1.00 goals against average. Wingate is third in the SAC with 2.75 goals per game and leads the league with only five goals allowed on the year.

Anteneh Lemma had three goals in Tusculum’s 7-0 win over Brevard. Marc Joseph also had a pair of goals in the victory. Lemma leads the Pioneers with 11 points, racking up four goals and three assists on the year. Joseph leads Tusculum with five goals while Andres Jarquin has three goals and three assists. Goalkeeper Lance Moore is third in the SAC in saves and save percentage.

This game serves as a rematch of the 2008 South Atlantic Conference championship game. Tusculum defeated Wingate 1-0, getting a goal from Corey Mcpherson with seven minutes remaining in regulation. The Bulldogs held a slim 15-14 edge in shots and 6-3 advantage in corner kicks.

(Wingate University assistant sports information director Hugh Patton wrote this article. Patton is a 2006 Wingate graduate with a B.A. degree in Communication Studies.)