Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University senior forward Kerstin Williams (Summerville, S.C.) celebrated her birthday in style, scoring two goals and dishing out one assist to lead the Bulldogs to a 3-2 NCAA Division II women’s soccer victory over Lees-McRae College Tuesday night at the WU Soccer Complex.

Williams tallied the match-winning goal with 2:22 remaining for the host Bulldogs (7-1-3 overall). Wingate hosts Carson-Newman College Saturday at 4 p.m. Lees-McRae sophomore midfielder Emily Jones (Leonardtown, Md.) had a goal and an assist for the Bobcats (9-4 overall).

Two of Wingate’s three goals were headers. Williams got things started in the 14 th minute, taking a perfect corner kick pass from junior defender Megan Mastalerz (Elkridge, Md.) and heading the ball into the back of the nets.

Lees-McRae answered 35 seconds later, as Jones took a cross from junior forward/midfielder Vickie Rich (Arlington Heights, Ill.) and tallied her fourth goal of the season. The score remained 1-1 at the half time interlude.

Bobcat redshirt freshman midfielder MaryBeth Sullivan (Greensboro, N.C.) converted a long ball from Jones into a one-on-one break away opportunity in the 72nd minute. Sullivan scored her team-leading seventh goal of the season to give the visitors their first lead.

Wingate did not fold the tents, as a Williams’ cross found junior forward Hannah Holsclaw (Matthews, N.C.) wide open in the box. Holsclaw’s header found the corner of the nets to make the score 2-1 in the 78th minute. The David W. Butler High School product has four goals this season.

Williams finished the deal herself, sending a laser past LMC senior goalkeeper Brittany Bolton (Roanoke, Va.) to tally her team-best eighth goal of the 2010 campaign. Lees-McRae had one more chance, pushing the ball deep into Wingate territory. The Bobcats could not get a shot attempt and the Bulldogs cleared the ball for their third home victory of the season.

Wingate outshot Lees-McRae 18-5. The Bulldogs held an 8-4 advantage in shots on goal. Wingate freshman goalkeeper Carly Rives (Matthews, N.C.) earned her third triumph of the season, allowing two goals and recording two saves. Bolton surrendered three goals and notched five saves. Both goalkeepers played 90 minutes.

Both Wingate (seventh) and Lees-McRae (10th) are ranked in this week’s NCAA Division II Southeast Region top 10 poll. The LMC Bobcats host Brevard College Friday for a 5 p.m. contest in Banner Elk.