Wingate, N.C.----Two Flagler College men’s soccer players scored the first goal of their season as the Saints blanked number seven Wingate University 2-0 Wednesday afternoon at the WU Soccer Complex. The victory avenges a Flagler loss to Wingate in the first round of the 2009 NCAA Division II play-offs.

Both teams are 3-1 overall, as the host Bulldogs suffer their first loss of the 2010 season. Wingate opens South Atlantic Conference play Saturday night, entertaining Mars Hill College for a 7 p.m. contest. Flagler returns to Peach Belt Conference action Saturday night, hosting UNC Pembroke for a 7:30 p.m. affair.

The 2009 Peach Belt Conference championships, Flagler scored one goal in each half. In the opening frame, sophomore defender Nick Duncan (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) encountered a loose ball inside the midfield stripe. He launched a missile over the head of Wingate senior goalkeeper Joey Calandra (Mount Pleasant, S.C.) in the 11th minute.

In the second half, sophomore defender Adam Jackson (Nottingham, England) used his 6-4 frame to convert a header from close range. The goal was assisted by a pinpoint corner kick pass from senior midfielder Conor Killeen (Dublin, Ireland).

The Saints and head coach John Lynch were very efficient. Both Duncan and Jackson attempted only one shot on the evening. Flagler took only nine shots with five shots on goal. Conversely, Wingate tried 13 shots with seven shots on goal for head coach Gary Hamill.

Calandra played 90 minutes in the nets, allowing two goals. He recorded three saves. Flagler senior goalkeeper Matt Gilman (Ocala, Fla.) posted his third shutout of the season. Gilman recorded a season-high seven saves. He also went the distance between the pipes.