Gaffney, S.C.----Limestone College junior attack Charlie Sheehan (St. Catharines, Ontario) had four goals and two assists, leading the number one Saints to a 14-5 triumph over number nine Wingate University in the NCAA Division II men's lacrosse quarterfinals at Saints Field Saturday. LC junior midfielder Ryan Maciejewski (Penn Yan, N.Y.) also had four goals for the hosts.
 
Wingate concludes the record-setting 2017 season with a 13-4 overall record. The 13 victories are a school-record for the South Atlantic Conference tournament champion Bulldogs. Limestone improves to 19-1 overall. The Saints will host either Lenoir-Rhyne or Tampa in the NCAA semi-finals Sunday, May 21.
 
Limestone redshirt junior attack Brendan P. Smith (West Islip, N.Y.) added two goals to the home team's cause, while four teammates had one score each. For Wingate, sophomore midfielder Conor Gronbach (Cary, N.C.) had two scores. Senior attack Austin Murphy (Orillia, Ontario) had a team-high two assists.
 
The Saints started quickly, taking a 4-0 lead on an unassisted goal by freshman attack Tyler Papa (Manlius, N.Y.) with 5:02 left in the first quarter. Gronbach got the Bulldogs on the board at the 2:33 mark on an assist from Llerandi. Sheehan had two scores for Limestone in the opening frame, which ended with the hosts up 4-1.
 
Limestone scored twice in the second stanza to take a 6-1 lead at the halftime intermission. Maciejewski posted his first goal of the game at the 12:52 plateau on an assist from Sheehan. Four minutes later, Sheehan concluded the first half scoring with his third goal of the first 30 minutes. He was assisted on the play by senior midfielder Chris Clancy (Peterborough, Ontario).
 
The third quarter ended with Limestone holding a 10-2 edge. After goals from Clancy and junior midfielder Ben Higgins (Hampstead, Md.), Gronbach tallied his second goal of the game at the 5:53 mark. He was assisted on the play by sophomore midfielder Daniel Godwin (Greensboro, N.C.). Goals by Limestone senior midfielder Colton Watkinson (Burlington, Ontario) and Sheehan concluded the third quarter scoring.
 
Wingate scored three goals in the fourth quarter. After Smith opened the period with his second goal, Bulldog sophomore attack Alex Llerandi (Marietta, Ga.) recorded his team-leading 32nd tally to make the score 11-3 Limestone. Junior attack Jeremy Sullivan (Crofton, Md.) and redshirt senior attack Ryan Vogrig (Vancouver, B.C.) also posted goals in the fourth frame. Vogrig's goal (on a Murphy assist) made the score 12-5 Saints with five minutes left.
 
Limestone junior goalie Cole Aikens (Novato, Calif.) collected his 14th victory of the season (against only one setback) Saturday. In 60 minutes, Aikens had 12 saves while surrendering five goals. Wingate junior goalie Will Sheridan (Woodstock, Ga.) took the loss while also going the distance. Sheridan allowed 14 goals and posted 10 saves.
 
LC senior midfielder Kevin Reisman (West Babylon, N.Y.) won 16-of-17 face-offs for the hosts. He led both teams with 10 ground balls. The Saints collected 40 total ground balls, compared to 23 for the Bulldogs. Limestone outshot Wingate 45-25 with a 39-13 margin after three quarters.
 
In addition, Limestone converted two-of-two extra man opportunities. Wingate did not score an EMO goal in three chances. The Saints won 19-of-23 face-offs, with freshman midfielder Dakota Kirsh-Downs (Odenton, Md.) earning the three victories Reisman did not. The Bulldogs had 11 clears in 12 tries, while the Saints recorded seven clears in 10 attempts.