Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs notched their sixth consecutive victory, defeating the Crusaders of Belmont Abbey College 3-1 in NCAA Division II men’s soccer action Wednesday night at the WU Soccer Complex. The Bulldogs improve to 9-2 overall, while Belmont Abbey falls to 6-5-2 on the season.
Senior midfielder
Jack Vundum (Birmingham, England) got the scoring started 15:11 into the match. Junior
Thomas Poole (Birmingham, England) got the play started with a long throw in from the corner. Senior midfielder
Luke Mulholland (Preston, England) headed the ball down to Vundum, who netted his fourth goal of the season.
The match would remain 1-0 until senior midfielder
Adam Cunningham (Gastonia, N.C.) scored with 18:33 remaining in the second half. Mulholland set up the goal with a cross, while Cunningham’s second goal of the season came on a header re-directed off a Belmont Abbey defender.
The Bulldogs added another insurance goal less than two minutes later, when Cunningham and senior forward
Jamie McKenna (Blackpool, England) took advantage of a two-on-one fast break. Cunningham beat the defender, then crossed it to a wide-open McKenna, who scored his team-high 11th goal of the year to make it 3-0. McKenna entered the match tied for sixth in the nation in goals per game this year.
The Crusaders avoided the shutout by scoring with 44 seconds remaining on the clock. A shot from sophomore forward
Timi Borges Da Silva (London, England) was saved, but senior midfielder James Lawerence Forbes (Nottingham, England) was there to put home the goal to make it 3-1.
Wingate outshot Belmont Abbey 16-9 on the night, while holding an 8-4 edge in shots on goal. Senior goalkeeper
Joey Calandra (Mount Pleasant, S.C.) collected three saves for the Bulldogs. Senior goalkeeper
Louis Liberatore (Cary, N.C.) had five saves for the Crusaders.
The Bulldogs return to action Saturday, hosting Carson-Newman at 7 p.m. The Eagles are in first place in the SAC, and are the only team in the conference without a league loss. Belmont Abbey will travel to Erskine Saturday for a 4 p.m. start.
