Box Score

Aiken, S.C.----Wingate University sophomore midfielder Jade Montgomery (Monroe, N.C.) scored with 4:30 remaining in regulation to give the visiting Bulldogs a 1-0 victory at USC Aiken in NCAA Division II soccer action Monday night. Wingate improves to 3-0-1 overall, while the Pacers fall to 1-3-1 on the season.
 
After 84 scoreless minutes of action, the Bulldogs nearly took the lead when a shot from freshman midfielder Danielle Cremmen (Acton, Mass.) hit the crossbar. Wingate continued to attack, and netted the game-winner less than a minute later. Freshman defender Victoria Sneyd (Matthews, N.C.) assisted on the play, while Montgomery put one in the lower left corner for her team-best fifth goal of the season.
 
“Credit to USC Aiken, they really challenged us,” head coach Gary Curneen says. “We picked up our ideas and work rate in the second half and the result followed. The late goal shows our never-say-die spirit and we can now move on to conference play unbeaten.”
 
After being outshot 9-3 by the Pacers in the opening half, Wingate outshot USC Aiken 7-4 in the second half. The Pacers held a 13-10 edge in shots on the night, but the Bulldogs held a 5-2 advantage in shots on goal. Senior goalkeeper Miriam Boucher (Calgary, Alberta) had a pair of saves to preserve the shutout. Allie Edens had four saves for the Pacers.
 
The Bulldogs return to action Saturday, traveling to Lenoir-Rhyne at 5 p.m. for the SAC opener. The Bears won the regular season SAC title in 2011, going undefeated in league play. Wingate’s lone conference loss last season came at Lenoir-Rhyne, falling 4-3. The Bulldogs answered with a 4-2 win over the Bears in the Food Lion SAC Tournament championship game. Wingate’s match at Armstrong, which was slated for Wednesday, has been canceled.