NCAA Southeast Regional Site

Indianapolis, Ind.----The Wingate University women's soccer team returns to the NSCAA top 25 this week, checking in at number 21 in the final top 25 poll of the regular season. The Bulldogs were ranked 22nd in the Oct. 22 poll. That was Wingate's first ranking since the 2000 season. The Bulldogs are hosting this weekend's NCAA Southeast Regional Tournament as the number one seed. Wingate will host the winner of Friday's Clayton State vs. Columbus State contest. Free HD video will be available for Friday's quarterfinal match and Sunday's semifinal contest.

"The girls are still in shock that we are hosting," head coach Chip Wiggins says. "It is going to be odd watching a team other than Wingate playing on our home field Friday afternoon. However, I feel the girls are ready for the experience and look forward to their match on Sunday."

The Bulldogs earned their top 25 ranking and number one seed in the regional with a five-game winning streak, which included a SAC Tournament championship. Wingate is 15-2-3 overall. The 'Dogs went 8-2-1 in SAC play, finishing alone in second place. The Bulldogs outscored their opponents 46-13 on the season, out-shooting the opposition 372-184 on the year.

"It is really nice to be getting national recognition for all of the girls' efforts this season," Wiggins says. "We have been really busy getting ready to host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Without the help of Gary Hamill and Joey Calandra, this would have not been possible. With one of the teams arriving this afternoon we finished up this morning and are ready for a great weekend of national tournament soccer at Wingate."

The NCAA Southeast Regional Tournament gets underway Friday at the WU Soccer Complex at 1 p.m. A pair of Peach Belt teams will meet up, when fourth-seeded Columbus State takes on fifth-seeded Clayton State. Columbus State went 14-6 in the regular season, going 9-2 in the Peach Belt. The Cougars had a four-game winning streak halted in the PBC Tournament semifinals, losing 2-1 against Georgia College. Clayton State won the PBC regular season and tournament title, entering the regionals ranked 11th in the NSCAA top 25. The Lakers are 12-3-6 overall, winning the regular season PBC title with an 8-0-3 conference record. Clayton State won the regular season matchup 3-0 against Columbus State on Oct. 20.

Wingate's five-game winning streak started with a 3-0 win at Anderson, getting two goals and an assist from junior forward Jade Montgomery (Monroe, N.C.). The 'Dogs followed with a 3-1 victory at Lincoln Memorial to close out the regular season, with senior midfielder Katie Simpson Eiss (Indian Trail, N.C.) scoring a pair of goals.

The Bulldogs opened SAC Tournament play with a 1-0 victory against Newberry. Freshman midfielder Kaitlyn Brunworth (Littleton, Colo.) scored the lone goal of the contest with under 10 minutes to play in regulation. Wingate avenged one of its two regular season losses in the SAC semifinal contest, defeating Tusculum 3-0. Montgomery, senior defender Chandler Murphy (Pawleys Island, S.C.) and freshman forward Brooke Howell (Charlotte, N.C.) each had a goal and an assist in the match.

Wingate met up against Lincoln Memorial in the SAC title game. The game's first goal was not scored until the final 30 seconds of the first half, when Montgomery headed home a perfect pass from redshirt junior defender Brandi Baldwin (Indian Trail, N.C.) to give Wingate a 1-0 lead at halftime. LMU tied the game in the final five minutes of regulation, but Montgomery had the answer. The two-time SAC Player of the Year scored her 50th career goal with 57 seconds remaining in the game, giving Wingate the dramatic 2-1 victory.

Montgomery leads the Wingate attack. The 2012 first team All-American leads the SAC with 16 goals, 10 assists and 42 points. She has 19 more points than anyone else in the conference. The reigning SAC Female Athlete of the Year was named the SAC Tournament MVP. After leading the nation in goals and goals per game in 2012, Montgomery ranks seventh nationally in points, 10th in goals and 11th in assists.

Howell is second on the team and fourth in the SAC with eight goals. The freshman also has four assists, ranking fourth in the league with 20 points. Murphy has five goals and four assists on the season, ranking 11th in the league in assists and 13th in goals and points. Senior midfielder Taryn Grivois (Murrieta, Calif.) is second on the team and third in the conference with six assists.

The Wingate defense has been dominant all season. Baldwin anchors the defense, along with Murphy and freshman Macy Franklin (Conover, N.C.). All three earned All-SAC honors, with Murphy earning first team all-conference accolades. Wingate leads the league with a 0.62 goals against average, allowing only 13 goals in 20 games this year. The Bulldogs have allowed six less goals than any other SAC team. Junior goalkeeper Ashlyn Hardie (Summerfield, N.C.) is the SAC leader in goals against average and save percentage, ranking eighth nationally in save percentage and 11th in goals against average.

Columbus State is led by Nicole Corcione, with 10 goals and three assists on the season. Chelsea Person has eight goals and two assists, while Mandy Janowitz has six goals and two assists for the Cougars. Denisha Paskell leads the way for Clayton State with 13 goals and two assists. Melissa Hetherington is right behind her with 11 goals and four assists while Alicia Robinson has two goals and a team-best 10 assists.

The Bulldogs have not played Columbus State this season, but did open the 2013 campaign at Clayton State in September. The Lakers jumped out to a 3-0 lead at halftime, but the Bulldogs responded with three second-half goals to earn a tie. Paskell had a pair of goals for the Lakers. Montgomery had a goal and an assist for Wingate, while Howell and sophomore Lindsay Hyde (Shirley, Mass.) also scored.

The winning team Sunday will advance to the regional finals next Friday, Nov. 22. They will take on the winner from the other half of the regional, taking place in Hickory, where Lenoir-Rhyne is the host. The Bears will take on the winner of Friday's Belmont Abbey vs. Pfeiffer contest on Sunday afternoon.

NCAA Southeast Regionals
(at Wingate, N.C.)
Friday, Nov. 15
1 p.m. #4 Columbus State vs. #5 Clayton State
Sunday, Nov. 17
1 p.m. Columbus State-Clayton State winner at #1 Wingate

NCAA Southeast Regionals
(at Hickory, N.C.)
Friday, Nov. 15
#3 Belmont Abbey vs. #6 Pfeiffer
Sunday, Nov. 17
BAC-Pfeiffer winner at #2 Lenoir-Rhyne