Wingate, N.C.----First-year Wingate University men’s lacrosse coach Michael Lawson and his coaching staff are working overtime getting the Bulldogs ready for the 2013 season. “Essentially, we have packed six months of work into three weeks,” Lawson says. The Bulldogs open the 2013 campaign Wednesday at Queens University of Charlotte (4 p.m. first face-off).
 
Wingate opens its home slate Saturday versus Lees-McRae College. Game time at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field is 2 p.m. Saturday. “Our guys are buying into the system,” Lawson says. “We have a new system and a new language. We’ve kept some things, but we have made many changes. Once they get to the place where efforts become instincts, we will be in much better shape.”
 
Lawson knows his seniors will be crucial to the team’s success. “We have a very strong senior class,” Lawson says. “We are counting on each of our seniors to contribute heavily.”
 
Numbers are a concern, but Lawson believes opportunities abound for his newcomers. “We don’t have the luxury…of letting our younger players develop,” Lawson says. “We need them to contribute right now.”
 
Coach Lawson sat down with the Wingate University Sports Information department to talk about the 2013 season. A transcript of the interview follows.
 
Wingate men’s lacrosse
Position-by-position outlook with head coach Michael Lawson
 
Goalkeeper
 
Redshirt junior Patrick Cooney is our starter. We are pleased with his efforts. He’s made much progress in a few short weeks. Sophomore Travis Price is competing and pushing for time. Freshman Zach Weinheimer will have a chance to help us as well.
 
Defense
 
Our first line is senior Michael Acosta, senior Stuart Lockhart and sophomore Ryan Foltz. Junior Logan Brawley will make an impact as well. These guys have bought into our scheme…and they are working very hard.
 
Freshman Cole Clifton and sophomore William Handy are looking to play a bigger role. They are both developing…we hope they will play significant minutes by mid-season.
 
Midfield
 
Seniors Derek Watts, Garrett Kendall and Chase Clifton will run with the first midfield. On the second line, we will see sophomore Chase Watts, senior Jackson Bunn and freshman Robbie Godwin.
 
Robbie Godwin has been a nice surprise. He is fun to coach…a blue-collar worker…throw-back type of player. Junior Troy Press will make a big impact as well.
The third midfield will include sophomore Zak Goings and freshmen Jake Fegley and Andrew Gobble. Freshman Terek Green is learning the system…and will help us down the road.
 
Face-offs
 
Juniors Bryce Sneed and Alex Despo are working very hard. Bryce Sneed won 134 face-offs last season. We hope they will set the tone for our offense.
 
Attack
 
Freshman Ryan Vogrig, senior Taylor Womble, sophomore Cory Schumacher and freshman Brendan Cullen will make a solid four-man rotation for us. Freshman Matt Lilley is looking for ways to help us up front.
           
NOTES
 
The Wingate University men’s lacrosse team, in conjunction with the Bulldog marketing and sports information offices, is hosting Union County Lacrosse Day Saturday, Feb. 16 when Wingate entertains Lees-McRae for its home opener (2 p.m. first face-off). Coach Lawson and his staff are inviting UC teams, coaches and support personnel to attend Wingate’s home opener. “We are very excited to reach out and develop more relationships within the community,” Lawson says.
 
The WU Bulldogs will play seven home games at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field this year. Wingate’s first 2013 Deep South Conference opponent (Florida Southern) visits Union County for a Feb. 28 contest (3:30 p.m. first face-off). Wingate’s Senior Day is March 30, when the Bulldogs host DSC rival Mars Hill (2 p.m.). Wingate’s final regular season home game is April 28, as the Bulldogs face first-time opponent Lake Erie (Ohio).

The 2013 season is Wingate’s final year in the Deep South Conference. Men’s lacrosse is one of four new South Atlantic Conference sports on the league’s 2013-14 horizons. Women’s lacrosse and men’s and women’s track and field are the other new SAC sports for the 2013-14 campaign.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Wingate University, ranked as the 6th “best value” in the South by U.S. News & World Report, serves nearly 2,700 students on three campuses in Wingate, Matthews and Hendersonville, N.C. Founded in 1896, the University offers 35 undergraduate majors, 37 minors and career concentrations, numerous pre-professional programs, graduate degrees in business, accounting, education, physician assistant studies and sport administration, and doctorates in pharmacy and education.
 
With a 14 to 1 student/teacher ratio, Wingate students gain the tools and support needed to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. To view current news, video and story ideas, visit www.youtube.com/wingateuniversity. 
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past six years.
 
Wingate is first among NCAA Division II Academic All-America®-producing private colleges in the 2000’s with 52 selections. Among North Carolina’s colleges and universities, Wingate’s 52 Academic All-America® honorees are tied for first (with Duke University) during this millennium. Wingate’s 61 lifetime Academic All-America® picks are tops among all SAC schools. For more information, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com.