Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University redshirt junior attack Shannon O'Neal (Severna Park, Md.) tied her career-high with five goals, leading the Bulldogs to a 21-8 South Atlantic Conference women's lacrosse victory over the Newberry College from Graham Gill Field at the Irwin Belk Track Complex Saturday afternoon. O'Neal has scored five goals in four different games (all Wingate triumphs).
 
With the victory, Wingate earns its school-record sixth consecutive triumph. The Bulldogs are 10-2 overall and 4-1 in the SAC. Newberry is 5-10 overall and 1-5 in the SAC. Wingate steps away from SAC play Wednesday, visiting SCAD Savannah for a 5:30 p.m. game in Hardeeville, S.C. (at the SCAD Athletics Complex). Newberry visits SAC rival Catawba Saturday, April 15 at 2 p.m.
 
"I am proud of our team's effort today," Wingate head women's lacrosse coach Caline McHenry Olmsted says. "We had contributions from everyone. We believe this is good momentum for us going into our game Wednesday against SCAD."
 
Bulldog senior midfielder Paulena Dempsey (Jarrettsville, Md.) led both teams in points with three goals and three assists for six markers. WU freshman midfielder Casey Roux (Rochester, N.Y.) matched Dempsey with three goals. Three Wingate freshmen scored two goals each: attacks Kendall Wells (Elkridge, Md.), Addison Billings (York, Pa.) and Madison Hobson (Dunkirk, Md.).
 
For Newberry, junior attack Helen Kuhn (Charlotte Hall, Md.) had three goals. Senior midfielder Maddie Campbell (Hilton Head Island, S.C.) had two scores. The Wingate defense held Wolves sophomore midfielder Rachel Dillon (Chesapeake Beach, Md.) without a goal Saturday. Dillon entered the contest with 42 goals, third on the SAC scoring charts.
 
Newberry freshman defender Natalie Johnson (Duncan, S.C.) opened the scoring with a free-position goal at the 28:09 mark. Wingate responded with eight straight goals to take a lead the Bulldogs would not relinquish. O'Neal had three goals in the flurry, including the run-concluding score with 14:18 left in the first half.
 
Campbell and O'Neal traded free-position goals to make the score 9-2 Wingate three minutes later. Newberry would get no closer, as the O'Neal free-position score started a 5-1 run to give the 'Dogs a 13-3 advantage at intermission. Billings and Roux score two goals each in the 5-1 push.
 
Wingate sophomore goalie and SAC Defensive Player of the Week Arion Pierre (Haymarket, Va.) played the first half, allowing three goals and recording two saves. Bulldog junior goalie Nicole Hinkle (Fallston, Md.) played the second half, surrendering five goals and posting five saves. Hinkle had a team-best four ground balls Saturday. Newberry sophomore goalie Brandy Bowman (Irvine, Calif.) played 60 minutes. She gave up 21 goals with five saves.
 
Wingate outshot Newberry by a 30-19 margin, while Newberry held the slight 15-12 edge in ground balls. The Bulldogs won 15 draw controls to 12 for the Wolves. Wingate forced 15 Newberry turnovers. The visiting Wolves had four tallies on eight free-position shots, while Wingate posted three scores on five free-position chances.