Wingate, N.C.----Eleven Wingate University men's lacrosse student-athletes scored a goal as the Bulldogs earned a 16-9 South Atlantic Conference victory over Tusculum College Saturday afternoon at the Irwin Belk Track Complex turf field. Wingate improves to 2-4 overall and 2-0 in the SAC, while Tusculum falls to 1-4 overall and 0-4 in the SAC.

The contest was originally scheduled for Greeneville, Tenn., but the recent spate of bad weather forced officials to make a venue change. Wingate returns to action Sunday, hosting SAC men's lacrosse newcomer Lincoln Memorial University for a 3 p.m. contest.

Wingate sophomore attack Austin Murphy (Orillia, Ontario) led the Bulldogs with five points on the strength of two goals and three assists. Both Murphy and senior midfield Chase Watts (Winston-Salem, N.C.) had three helpers each as the hosts never trailed Saturday.

Bulldog sophomore midfield Seth Grimwood (Huntingtown, Md.) and junior attack Ryan Vogrig (Vancouver, B.C.) had three goals each for Wingate. For Tusculum, freshman attack Andrew Kransberger (Grand Rapids, Mich.) had two goals and one assist. Freshmen attack men Dallas Wade (Victoria, B.C.) and Chris Ryan (Old Bridge, N.J.) had two goals each for the visitors.
Wingate freshman midfield James Thatcher (East Patchogue, N.Y.) had a career day in the face-off X, as he won 24-of-28 face-offs. He collected a team-high 17 ground balls. The Bulldogs held a 46-26 ground ball advantage Saturday.

The hosts never trailed, bolting to a 4-0 lead thanks to two goals from Vogrig and one goal each from freshman attack Jeremy Sullivan (Crofton, Md.) and sophomore defense Drew Thompson (Charlotte, N.C.). An unassisted goal by Grimwood made the score 9-2 Wingate with 12:35 left in the second stanza.

The Bulldogs led 11-5 at intermission. Vogrig had three first-half goals, while eight teammates had one goal each. Tusculum would cut the deficit to four late in the third quarter, but the visitors would get no closer down the stretch.

Thompson was one of four Bulldogs to score their first career goal Saturday. In addition, redshirt freshman Brennan Asplen (St. Augustine, Fla.), freshman defense Marc James (Silver Spring, Md.) and freshman midfield Zach Lord (Woodstock, Ga.) found the back of the nets for the first time in the Navy Blue and Vegas Gold.

WU sophomore goalie Jacob Ormerod (Lake Mary, Fla.) earned the victory between the pipes, posting 17 saves and allowing nine goals. TC sophomore goalie Kevin Haggerty (Suffern, N.Y.) surrendered 16 goals and recorded 11 saves.

Wingate hosts Lincoln Memorial Sunday at 3 p.m. The Bulldogs will face Young Harris Thursday (12 noon) and Shorter Saturday (1 p.m.) during their Spring Break swing through the state of Georgia. Tusculum visits Mars Hill Thursday at 4 p.m.