Wingate, N.C.--- Wingate University sophomore attack Jeremy Sullivan (Crofton, Md.) netted the game-winning goal from junior midfielder Seth Grimwood (Huntingtown, Md.) with 3:08 remaining in the first overtime period, completing a wild 10-9 come-from-behind triumph over Catawba College in South Atlantic Conference men's lacrosse action Saturday afternoon on Graham Gill Field at the Irwin Belk Track Complex. Wingate improves to 8-5 overall and 5-1 in the SAC, while Catawba falls to 3-7 overall and 2-4 in SAC competition.

The 'Dogs would begin their comeback on Grimwood's ninth tally of his junior campaign, cutting the deficit to 9-8 with only 1:23 to go in the contest. Wingate knotted the contest at 9-9 on an unassisted score from freshman attack Alex Llerandi (Marietta, Ga.) with nine seconds remaining in regulation to set up the thrilling Wingate overtime victory.

"I give a ton of credit to our kids," Wingate head men's lacrosse coach Michael Lawson says. "These guys fight like no other team I have ever coached. This is a special group."

The Indians struck first in the contest on an unassisted tally from senior midfielder Josh Reedy (Lake Mary, Fla.) to take an early 1-0 score at the eight-minute mark in the first quarter. The Bulldogs answered with back-to-back goals to take a 2-1 lead at the 2:14 mark in the first quarter. Catawba responded with consecutive tallies of its own to take the one-goal lead at 3-2 with just seven seconds left in the first quarter of play.

Wingate came out of the first quarter break strong with two more back-to-back tallies to gain a 4-3 advantage at the 10:07 mark in the second quarter. The Indians commenced a run of three unanswered scores going into the halftime break to make it a 6-4 Catawba lead with 2:56 to go in the half. Catawba would maintain the 6-4 advantage at the halftime intermission.

The Indians then completed a run of four consecutive tallies to add on to their lead at 7-4 with 14:35 left in the third quarter, thanks to a goal from freshman attack Cole Fanzo (Crofton, Md.). Wingate then stormed back to tie the contest at 7-7 on three unanswered scores of its own. Grimwood scored the tying goal at the 14:07 mark in the fourth quarter. Catawba regained the lead on two straights goals to make it a 9-7 contest with 4:43 left in the fourth quarter of play.

Llerandi led the Bulldog offense with three goals on the afternoon. Grimwood and freshman midfielder Daniel Godwin (Greensboro, N.C.) finished second on the WU team list with two goals each. Four Catawba players tied for the team lead with two goals each.

Wingate junior goalkeeper Jacob Ormerod (Lake Mary, Fla.) posted 21 saves this afternoon. He has recorded a total of 43 saves in two games, following his 22-save performance in the Bulldogs' victory over nationally-ranked Queens University of Charlotte Wednesday night. He picked up the win Saturday, playing the entire 60:52 of the contest. Catawba junior goalie Ryan Applegate (Ponte Verda, Fla.) posted 16 saves and took the loss. He also played for 60:52 Saturday.

"Jacob had an unbelievable day," Lawson says. "Overall, it wasn't a pretty game…but we found a way to get things done. We've got to work on not making things so hard on ourselves."

The Wingate University men's lacrosse team will be back in action on Saturday, April 16, when they hit the road to Brevard, N.C. to face the Brevard College Tornadoes for a 1 p.m. SAC contest. The Catawba College Indians will be back in action Saturday, April 9, when they travel to Rome, Georgia for a non-conference match-up against the Shorter University Hawks. First face-off is slated for 2 p.m.

(Wingate University sports information/sports network student assistant Jackson Kaplan contributed this article. A freshman from Raleigh, Kaplan is a Communication Studies major at Wingate. The former Millbrook High School baseball player is the son of Harrison and Dona Kaplan.)