Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University built a seven-goal lead and withstood a valiant Newberry College comeback as the Bulldogs claimed a 10-9 South Atlantic Conference women's lacrosse triumph at the Irwin Belk Track Complex turf field Saturday afternoon. Three Wingate players had three goals each in the victory (NCAA box score).
 
With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 9-7 overall and 4-4 in the SAC. Wingate qualifies for next week's SAC tournament. The number five seed Bulldogs visit number four seed Catawba Tuesday for a 6 p.m. quarter-final contest. Newberry falls to 5-10 overall and 2-6 in the SAC.
 
Wingate junior team captain Erin Murphy (Mooresville, N.C.) celebrated her 21st birthday with three goals and one assist. Bulldog junior midfield Emily Nosek (Bel Air, Md.) matched her classmate point-for-point with three scores and one helper of her own. Sophomore midfield Paulena Dempsey (Jarrettsville, Md.) also had three goals for the hosts.
 
For Newberry, junior attack Jessica Baxtrom (St. Leonard, Md.) led all scorers with five goals. She had three goals in the Wolves' 6-0 run in the final six minutes. Redshirt sophomore midfield Ajahna Grosvenor (Lawrenceville, Ga.) had two scores. She started the 6-0 run with an unassisted goal with exactly six minutes to play, making the score 10-4 Wingate.
 
Wingate opened the second half with a 6-1 flurry, taking a 10-3 lead on a Nosek free-position shot with 9:01 remaining. Nosek scored all three of her Saturday goals during this stretch, while Dempsey added two tallies. Murphy's 35th goal of the season was the only other score during the 6-1 run.
 
Grosvenor ended the 6-0 Newberry push with 45 seconds to play, finding the back of the nets to cut the Wolves' deficit to one at 10-9. Wingate tried to melt the clock, but the Bulldogs gave the ball back to Newberry for one final shot. WU freshman goalie Nicole Hinkle (Fallston, Md.) saved the Wolves' final attempt with 19 seconds left to preserve the victory.
 
Newberry held slight advantages in shots (26-23), ground balls (41-37) and draw controls (13-8). Wingate scored on four free-position shots (four-of-seven), while Newberry converted three free-position opportunities (in eight tries).
 
Hinkle had 13 saves to keep the Wolves at bay. She allowed nine Newberry goals in 60 minutes of action. Newberry junior goalie Morgan Raffaele (Hilton Head, S.C.) took the loss. She surrendered 10 goals and recorded eight saves.
 
A second-year program, Wingate won two games in eight attempts during its inaugural 2014 season. The Bulldogs return their entire roster for the 2016 campaign. South Atlantic Conference officials will announce pairings and other tournament information Saturday night.