Box Score
Hickory, N.C.----The number 14 Lenoir-Rhyne University men's lacrosse team remains undefeated in the South Atlantic Conference following a 17-10 triumph over Wingate University Wednesday night at Moretz Stadium. The host Bears turned a 4-4 tie into a 9-4 lead and never looked back.
 
With the victory, Lenoir-Rhyne improves to 7-2 overall and 4-0 in the SAC. Wingate is 5-5 overall and 1-4 in the SAC. The Bulldogs return home Saturday, hosting Shorter (Ga.) University at 2 p.m. The L-R Bears visit Queens University of Charlotte Wednesday, April 2 at 4 p.m.
 
For Wingate, freshman attack Austin Murphy (Orillia, Ontario) led the Bulldogs with three goals and three assists. Freshman attack Tanner Kotch (Butler, Pa.) had two goals, while freshman midfield Steen Swedstedt (Mercer Island, Wash.) and sophomore attack Ryan Vogrig (Vancouver, B.C.) had one goal and two assists each.
 
Lenoir-Rhyne junior attack Jay Goldsmith (Jamestown, N.C.) led the hosts with five goals. Freshman attack Mike Hanlon (Haymarket, Va.) had three goals and two assists, while senior midfield Sam Ashton (New Market, Md.) added two goals and two assists. Senior midfield Tyler Kotch (Butler, Pa.) also had two goals for the Bears.
 
Three different Bears scored one goal each to give L-R a 3-0 lead five minutes into the contest. Wingate answered, as freshman attack Josh Wilson (Bel Air, Md.) took a Murphy pass and found the back of the nets at the 8:58 mark. Tanner Kotch scored an unassisted goal one minute later to cut the Bulldog deficit to one at 3-2.
 
Goldsmith tallied Lenoir-Rhyne's fourth goal on an assist from Mike Hanlon at the 4:57 plateau. Murphy had a hand in Wingate's next two goals to tie the score 4-4 early in the second quarter. Vogrig found Murphy for his first goal of the contest with 2:59 remaining in the first frame. Swedstedt scored on a Murphy dish three minutes into the second stanza to tie the score.
 
The Bears responded with five consecutive goals to take a 9-4 lead early in the third quarter. Tyler Kotch scored the game-winner at the 10:04 mark of the second quarter. Goldsmith had two goals in the mini-run.
 
Murphy scored back-to-back third quarter goals (13:48, 13:06) to cut the Wingate deficit to 9-6, but the Bulldogs would get no closer in the second half. The Bears closed the third quarter on a 4-0 run to take a 14-7 lead entering the fourth frame. Both teams scored three goals each in the fourth quarter.
 
Lenoir-Rhyne outshot Wingate 48-33, while the Bulldogs held a slight 31-29 edge in ground balls. Wingate converted four-of-eight EMO chances; Lenoir-Rhyne scored three EMO goals in six tries. The Bears won 16 face-offs, while the Bulldogs claimed 15 face-off victories.
 
Bear junior goalie Alex Squires (Lawrenceville, Ga.) earned the victory. In 60 minutes, he allowed 10 goals and recorded eight saves. Bulldog freshman goalie Jacob Ormerod (Lake Mary, Fla.) took the loss. In 53-plus minutes, Ormerod had 10 saves and surrendered 17 goals. Freshman goalie Michael Connor (Stockport, England) played the last six-plus minutes, posting one save.