Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University women’s soccer team scored two first-half goals and held on for a 3-1 victory over the Trojans of Anderson University at the WU Soccer Complex Wednesday night. Wingate moves to 10-2-3 overall and 6-1-1 in the SAC, while the Trojans end their season at 6-11-1 overall and 2-7 in the SAC. The 10th win gives the Bulldogs their fourth double-digit win total in the last five years.

Wingate had plenty of missed opportunities in the first 20 minutes, but finally made one count in the 22nd minute to take a 1-0 lead. Senior forward Kerstin Williams (Summerville, S.C.) snuck a pass through the middle of the defense to the back post where junior midfielder Izabella Miranda (Plymouth, Mass.) tucked away her fifth goal of the season. The fifth tally ties for second on the team with junior midfielder Hannah Holsclaw (Matthews, N.C.).

The Bulldogs scored the eventual match-winner from the right foot of junior forward Kelly Adams (Matthews, N.C.) minutes later. Adams used the high winds on Wednesday afternoon to her advantage, as a cross became a goal when AU freshman goalkeeper Kaitlin Neipp (Anderson, S.C.) was caught off her line expecting a cross. It was the fourth goal on the year for the former Porter Ridge standout, who led the league in assists the past two seasons.

Leading 2-0 at halftime, the Bulldogs wasted little time adding to the margin. With only 34 seconds gone in second half, Williams netted her team-high ninth goal of 2010, thanks to a perfect feed from Adams. Miranda started the play with a ball deep in the corner, where Adams found Williams at the six-yard line.

Anderson only had two shots on the day but made the second count after Wingate sophomore goalkeeper Miriam Boucher (Calgary, Alberta) was called for a foul in the box. Senior forward Kristi Caldwell (Gaffney, S.C.) calmly stepped up and converted the penalty kick to finish the scoring.

The Bulldogs took 31 shots, with 14 of them on goal. Wingate also attempted seven corner kicks, holding Anderson to none. Boucher did not collect a save, but gets her sixth SAC win of the season. Neipp had a career-high 11 saves in the loss.

Wingate will play at Lincoln Memorial University on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the regular season finale for both teams. The Bulldogs have clinched a top three finish, but can win the SAC championship with a win and losses by Lenoir-Rhyne University and Carson-Newman College. The loss for the Trojans ends their season and hopes for a berth in the Food Lion SAC tournament.

(Wingate University Director of Broadcasting and sports information assistant Ryan Brown wrote this article. Brown is a 2006 Wingate graduate with a B.A. degree in Communication Studies.)