Box Score Savannah, Ga.----The fifth-seeded Saints of North Georgia defeated fourth-seeded Wingate University 4-1 in the opening round of the 2012 NCAA Southeast regional women’s soccer tournament Friday afternoon on the campus of Armstrong Atlantic. The Saints advance to the regional semifinals to take on the top-ranked Armstrong Pirates, improving to 14-4-2 overall. Wingate ends its season at 14-3-2 overall.

The Saints got on the board 24 minutes into the opening half, when senior forward Abby Trevino (Athens, Ga.) netted her ninth goal of the season, getting an assist from junior midfielder Caroline Wallace (Winterville, Ga.).

North Georgia took a 2-0 lead 14 minutes later on a goal from sophomore defender Megan Morrow (Snellville, Ga.).

Wingate got to within one 4:28 before halftime, when junior midfielder Taryn Grivois (Murrieta, Calif.) scored her second goal of the season, making it 2-1 heading to intermission.

The Saints scored twice in the opening nine minutes of the second half to take a 4-1 advantage. Sophomore midfielder Cicely Taliaferro (Marietta, Ga.) scored 2:16 into the second half. Trevino’s second goal of the game in the 54th minute put North Georgia on top by three.

North Georgia outshot Wingate 21-8 on the afternoon, holding an 8-4 advantage in shots on goal. Freshman goalkeeper Mallory Sayre (Snellville, Ga.) had three saves to preserve the victory for the Saints. Senior Miriam Boucher (Calgary, Alberta) registered four saves for the Bulldogs.

For Wingate, the 2012 NCAA Tournament appearance was the second in the program’s history. The Bulldogs made their first trip in 2011, falling 3-1 to North Georgia. After winning a program-record 16 games in 2011, the Bulldogs followed with a 14-win campaign. The 30 victories over the past two seasons are the most wins in a two-year stretch in Wingate women’s soccer history. The Bulldogs have also compiled a 16-2 record in SAC play over the past two seasons; easily the most conference wins in a two-year stretch in program history.