Women's Lacrosse | 2/10/2015 8:30:00 PM

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University women's lacrosse team enters season two with high hopes. The Bulldogs begin year number two in program history Wednesday, hosting Lees-McRae College for a 4 p.m. contest at the Irwin Belk Track Complex turf field on the Wingate campus. The 2015 version of the Bulldogs will play 16 games this year, with nine home contests.
 
"This year, we are an established program," Wingate head women's lacrosse coach Caline Olmsted says. "This is extremely helpful as we continue to grow. Last year...everything was new. This was a big challenge."
 
"Our student-athletes know what to expect," Olmsted says. "When our new players arrived last fall…everything was settled and organized. With the addition of four transfers, we instantly have experience, leadership and maturity. Our transfers have been a big boost."
 
Goals for the 2015 team include advancing to the South Atlantic Conference tournament and compiling a winning record. "We want to minimize turnovers and play our game," Olmsted says. "We have several statistical goals, both for the season and game-by-game."
 
In addition to the eight-game SAC schedule, the Bulldogs will face eight non-conference opponents. "We play several teams for the first time, including Belmont Abbey," Olmsted says. "Belmont Abbey is a local rival…who will provide us with a good test."
 
Olmsted sat down with the Wingate sports information department and gave a position-by-position glimpse at the 2015 Bulldog women's lacrosse team.
 
ATTACK
 
"Sophomores Logan Bounds (Salisbury, Md.) and Allie Holland (Ocala, Fla.) are our top returning players at attack. Logan earned a spot on the All-SAC team last year. Our attack group is very versatile…this is a big plus for us."
 
"We can use different players in different situations, giving us multiple looks. We won't have to rely on one or two people."

MIDFIELD
"The midfield is the strongest part of our team. Sophomore Laura Swanson (Plantation, Fla.) was named pre-season All-SAC. She is joined by juniors Erin Murphy (Mooresville, N.C.) and Emily Nosek (Bel Air, Md.), sophomores Brittany Andrews (Bel Air, Md.) and Paulena Dempsey (Jarrettsville, Md.) and freshman Maria Cepeda (Port Charlotte, Fla.). As is the case with our attack position, we have much versatility in the midfield. I look forward to seeing what this group can do."

DEFENSE
 
"Sophomores Morgan Insel (Plantation, Fla.) and Kendall Sienon (Woodstock, Ga.) return as leaders for our defensive unit. Kendall is making a big change…a good change for her. I expect great things from Morgan and Kendall as they lead a young defensive unit."

GOALIE
 
"Freshman goalie Nicole Hinkle (Fallston, Md.) had an awesome fall season. She is doing a great job for us. Nicole knows she must work very hard…and she has been doing everything we have asked (her to do). Nicole has good fundamentals…and clears the ball well. She made some big saves for us (in the fall). We look for her to continue her development."
 
BULLDOG NOTES
 
Wingate will face two SAC women's lacrosse newcomers in 2015, as Tusculum and Lincoln Memorial join the league as first-year programs. Both the LMU (Feb. 21) and Tusculum (March 7) contests will take place on the road. Wingate's home opponents include Lees-McRae, SCAD Savannah, Brevard, Young Harris, Coker, Colorado Mesa, Lenoir-Rhyne, Chowan and Newberry.
 
WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
Wingate University, ranked as the 10th "best value" in the South by U.S. News & World Report, serves more than 3,000 students on three campuses in Wingate, Charlotte 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, physical therapy 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 eight years. For more information, go to www.wingate.edu.
 
Wingate is first among NCAA Division II Academic All-America®-producing colleges in the 2000's with 72 selections. Among North Carolina's colleges and universities, Wingate's 72 Academic All-America® honorees are number one during this millennium. Wingate's 81 lifetime Academic All-America® picks are tops among all SAC schools. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com.