Young Harris, Ga.----Wingate redshirt sophomore attack Shannon O'Neal (Severna Park, Md.) posted five goals (including the game-winner) as the Bulldogs claimed a 11-8 NCAA Division II women's lacrosse victory over Young Harris College Saturday afternoon. O'Neal found the back of the nets with 6:13 to play in the second half to give Wingate a 9-8 lead the Bulldogs would not relinquish.
 
Reigning South Atlantic Conference Offensive Player of the Week and WU junior midfielder Paulena Dempsey (Jarrettsville, Md.) had three goals for the Bulldogs, who improve to 3-1 overall. Young Harris takes its first loss of the 2016 campaign, falling to 4-1 overall.
 
"We did a tremendous job today," Wingate head women's lacrosse coach Caline McHenry Olmsted says. "We battled for 60 minutes and did a great job of making adjustments in the second half."
 
The Mountain Lions and the Bulldogs were tied 4-4 at intermission, as Bulldog junior midfielder Laura Swanson (Plantation, Fla.) concluded the first half scoring to knot the contest with 5:35 remaining in the opening frame. Senior midfielder Emily Nosek (Bel Air, Md.) assisted on two Wingate's four first-half scores, including Swanson's score.
 
O'Neal single-handedly outscored Young Harris 3-1 to start the second half, boosting the Bulldogs to a 7-5 lead with 22:32 to play in the contest. The Mountain Lions battled back to tie the game 8-8 before O'Neal worked her magic on the game-winner with 6:13 remaining in regulation. Her fifth (and final) goal gave Wingate a 9-8 advantage.
 
Wingate freshman goalkeeper Arion Pierre (Haymarket, Va.) continues to impress between the pipes, collecting her third win as a collegian. She had 11 saves while allowing eight goals. The Bulldogs return to action Sunday, March 6, hosting Wheeling Jesuit (W.Va.) for a 1 p.m. NCAA Division II contest.