Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University men’s lacrosse team opens the 2011 season with a tough Deep South Conference test Friday, hosting Florida Southern College at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field. First face-off is slated for 3:30 p.m. The Wingate Sports Information Office will provide live statistics for the contest.

Wingate senior defense Matt Ramsey (Philadelphia, Pa.) was named a pre-season honorable mention All-American by Face-off Yearbook. In 2010, Ramsey was an All-Deep South Conference selection. He earned All-DSC honors for the first time in his career. Ramsey led the Bulldogs with 19 caused turnovers, while also collecting 39 ground balls this season. He started 14 of Wingate’s 15 games in 2010.

Bulldog junior goalkeeper Danny Dlugozima (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) returns. He also started 14 of Wingate’s 15 games in 2010. Dlugozima recorded 168 saves as a sophomore. His play will be crucial for the Bulldogs this season.

The Bulldogs welcome back their top five scorers from 2010. Wingate junior attack David Lee (Greensboro, N.C.) had a team-best 27 goals last year. Sophomore attack Colin O’Donoghue (Cranberry Township, Pa.) posted 19 goals and dished out 10 assists.

Wingate junior midfield Bryan Bayliss (Lorton, Va.) had 15 goals in 2010, while senior attack Billy Mutton (Mechanicsville, Va.) added 12 goals and nine assists. Sophomore midfield Derek Watts (Winston-Salem, N.C.) contributed nine goals. Bulldog head coach Sonny Ziegler looks to his offense to increase its 7.45 goals per game output from 2010.

In 2010, the Bulldogs picked up a 12-11 DSC road victory over Florida Southern College March 3 at Bryant Stadium. Recent graduate Angus Derbyshire scored the game-winner with 7:09 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Mocs had an apparent game-tying goal, but it was waived off due to an interference call.

Florida Southern is 1-0 overall and 1-0 in the DSC entering today’s contest. On Saturday, newcomer Mat Thompson had three fourth quarter goals and the game-winner to help the Moccasins down league foe Rollins 10-7. Both teams will play Sunday. FSC visits St. Andrews Presbyterian College for a 12 noon game, while Wingate hosts Molloy (N.Y.) College at 1 p.m. The Wingate University Sports Network will provide a PPV live video stream for the Molloy-Wingate game Sunday.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a private comprehensive university with more than 2,300 students on two campuses in Wingate and Matthews, North Carolina. The university offers 32 undergraduate majors, 36 minors and career concentrations, numerous pre-professional programs, graduate degrees in business, accounting, physician assistant studies and sports administration and doctorates in pharmacy and education.

Wingate students gain the tools and support they need to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. The campus community offers in-class learning, out-of-class experiences, strong mentors, a competitive yet caring environment and rewarding community service opportunities for a complete educational experience.

Bulldog student-athletes compete in 19 NCAA Division II sports. Wingate University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past four years.

Wingate University is ranked number three among NCAA Division II Academic All-America® producing schools in the 2000’s with 38 honorees during this millennium. Only Pittsburg State (Kan.) University and Truman State (Mo.) University have produced more Academic All-America® honorees during this time period. Wingate’s 47 Academic All-America® honorees (lifetime) is tops among all SAC schools.