BOX SCORE

Hickory, N.C.----Wingate senior attack David Lee (Greensboro, N.C.) scored the game-winner as the Bulldogs earned a 12-11 triple overtime Deep South Conference victory over Lenoir-Rhyne University Saturday afternoon at Moretz Stadium. The Bulldogs overcame a three-goal deficit in the third period to improve to 4-3 overall and 3-2 in the DSC. The Bears fall to 1-6 overall and 0-2 in the conference.
 
“I am very proud of the way our team kept playing today,” Wingate head coach Sonny Ziegler says. “Down by three in the third quarter in our fourth game of the week, a lot of teams might have packed it in.”
 
Senior attack Bryan Bayliss (Lorton, Va.) had four goals to lead the Wingate attack, while Lee added three goals for the Bulldogs. Junior attack Derek Watts (Winston-Salem, N.C.) had two goals and three assists, while sophomore midfield James Wells (Ashburn, Va.) had a pair of goals for Wingate.
 
The teams traded goals in the opening period. Bayliss scored with 2:43 remaining to tie it, but Miles Britton answered a minute later to put the Bears up 4-3 heading to the second period.
 
Watts opened the scoring in the second period, while setting up Wells with 12:40 remaining in the half to give Wingate its first lead of the day at 5-4. LRU scored the next two goals, regaining the lead on Tyler Kotch’s goal with 7:25 remaining. Wingate had the answer, with Watts setting up junior midfield Garrett Kendall (Greer, S.C.) 4:05 before halftime, tying the game at six.
 
The Bears scored the first three goals of the third, taking a 9-6 lead on a goal from Ned Kaish with 10:44 remaining in the period. Goals from Watts and Lee trimmed the lead to one heading into the fourth.
 
Lenoir-Rhyne regained a two-goal advantage less than two minutes into the final period of regulation. Bayliss netted his fourth goal of the game two minutes later to cut the lead to one. Wells tied the game at 10 with 6:17 remaining in regulation, while Lee put the Bulldogs on top with 2:28 to go. Sam Ashton scored with 1:43 left in regulation to tie the game at 11, sending it to overtime.
 
The Bears were on the attack for most of the first overtime, out-shooting Wingate 6-2. LRU hit the post twice in the first overtime period. The Bulldogs out-shot the Bears 5-3 in the second overtime, including one shot that hit the crossbar.
 
Wingate won the face-off in the third overtime, with Lee getting a shot 35 seconds into the period which was saved. The Bears were unable to clear, giving the ball back to Wingate. Lee took a feed from Watts and found the back of the net 1:55 into the third overtime, giving the Bulldogs the victory.
 
Senior goalie Danny Dlugozima (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) piled up 12 saves on the afternoon for the Bulldogs, while also collecting a team-high eight ground balls. Alex Squires had 12 saves for the Bears, while notching three ground balls. The Bulldogs out-shot the Bears 48-45 on the day.
 
Wingate returns to action Wednesday, traveling to Limestone for a 3:30 p.m. start.