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Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University sophomore forward Peron Da Silva (Sao Paulo, Brazil) scored on a header in the 59th minute, helping the Bulldogs blank Francis Marion 1-0 Saturday night at the WU Soccer Complex. Junior midfielder Gui Andrade (Sao Paulo, Brazil) assisted Da Silva on the match-winner.
 
Wingate improves to 2-0 overall on the young season, while Francis Marion falls to 0-2 overall with its second consecutive loss to a South Atlantic Conference school. The Bulldogs visit UNC Pembroke Tuesday at 7 p.m. The FMU Patriots visit Newberry Tuesday at 4 p.m.

“I’m happy with the win,” Wingate head coach Gary Hamill says. “I don’t think we played particularly well…but considering the weight of the field and the playing conditions, we worked very hard for the victory.”
 
On the match-winning play, Andrade took a free kick from 40 yards out. His boot found Da Silva, who converted the header from 10 yards away. Da Silva’s only shot on goal was the match-winner.
 
The Bulldogs outshot the Patriots 15-8. Wingate had five shots on goal, compared to two for FMU. Seven different Bulldogs took a shot Saturday, led by senior defender Corey McCollom (Monroe, N.C.) and his four attempts. Freshman defender Victor Tozelli (Sao Paulo, Brazil) had three shots with two tries on goal.
 
Wingate sophomore goalkeeper Sanjit Kang (Mississauga, Ontario) earned his second victory in two attempts. Kang pitched his first Bulldog shutout with two saves. Francis Marion freshman goalkeeper Taylor King (Pawley’s Island, S.C.) had four saves in a losing effort.
 
(Wingate University assistant sports information director Hugh Patton wrote this article. Patton is a 2006 Wingate graduate with a B.A. degree in Communication Studies.)