Wingate, N.C.----The 10th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs remained unbeaten on the season Wednesday night, opening league play with a 3-0 victory over visiting Mars Hill University in South Atlantic Conference men's soccer action. Wingate improves to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the SAC, while the Lions fall to 1-3 overall and 0-1 in the conference.

After 20 scoreless minutes to open the contest, the Bulldogs struck for two quick goals. Junior forward Elma N'For (Yaounde, Cameroon) got things started, taking a perfect cross from sophomore forward Nate Evans (Greenville, N.C.) right in front of the goal, finding the back of the net for the first time in his Wingate career.

Wingate struck again 60 seconds later when junior midfielder Callum Ross (Newcastle, England) ripped a low line drive into the corner of the goal from just outside the box, netting his second goal of the season off an assist from junior defender Damian Gaona (Santiago, Chile).

The Bulldogs went to intermission with a 2-0 lead, holding a 9-4 advantage in shots and a 5-2 edge in shots on goal. Wingate also took seven of the eight first-half corner kicks.

The Bulldogs added an insurance goal in the 82nd minute, when 2015 SAC Player of the Year Jon Ander (Bilbao, Spain) found the upper left corner of the goal from the edge of the box, his second goal in as many contests to make the final margin 3-0. N'For had the assist on the final goal of the evening.

Wingate out-shot Mars Hill 11-1 in the second half to hold a 20-5 advantage on the night, taking nine shots on goal compared to Mars Hill's three. All-American goalkeeper Pablo Jara (Santiago, Chile) had three saves for the Bulldogs, while Kristofer Winnen collected six saves for Mars Hill. Ander led all players with six shots on the night, including a pair of shots on goal.

The Bulldogs are back in action Saturday, traveling to Anderson for a 5 p.m. start.