Men's Lacrosse | 2/9/2018 6:45:00 PM

Box Score Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University junior midfielder Daniel Godwin (Greensboro, N.C.) scored the game-winner with 2:23 left in regulation, lifting the number 13 Bulldogs to a 9-8 NCAA Division II men's lacrosse victory over number 18 Florida Tech Friday afternoon at Graham Gill Field. The 2017 South Atlantic Conference tournament champions scored the last four goals of the game to take the triumph.
 
Bulldog junior attack Alex Llerandi (Marietta, Ga.) led the hosts with three goals and one assist. Senior attack Seth Grimwood (Huntingtown, Md.) and sophomore attack Gary Pierpont (Huntingtown, Md.) had two goals each for victors. For Florida Tech, senior attack Tajee Mobley (Mesa Vista, Calif.) had two scores.
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Score: #13 Wingate 9, #18 Florida Tech 8
Records: #13 Wingate 1-0, #18 Florida Tech 0-1
Location: Graham Gill Field at the Irwin Belk Track Complex, Wingate, N.C.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
 
-Wingate outshot Florida Tech 34-27, including a 22-10 advantage in the first half as the Bulldogs took a 5-4 lead to the halftime locker room.
-The FIT Panthers outshot the Bulldogs 15-4 in the third quarter.
-Wingate was zero-for-eight on extra-man opportunities.
-The Bulldog defense forced 22 Florida Tech turnovers.
-Both goalies played 60 minutes. Wingate graduate student Jacob Ormerod (Lake Mary, Fla.) had six saves, while Florida Tech redshirt junior Daniel Flock (Ellicott City, Md.) recorded 11 saves.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Quarter
 
Llerandi had a goal and an assist in the first frame, helping Wingate take a 3-1 lead after the first 15 minutes. Pierpont and junior midfielder Conor Gronbach (Cary, N.C.) also scored for the 'Dogs in the first quarter.
 
Second Quarter
 
Llerandi scored the first goal of the second stanza, putting the hosts up 4-1 at the 13:30 mark. Florida Tech responded with 7-1 run over the 24 minutes. Mobley had both of his goals during this stretch. The Panthers led 5-4 at intermission.
 
Third Quarter
 
Florida Tech sophomore midfielder Reid Chaconas (Westminster, Md.) concluded the Panthers' 7-1 run with an unassisted goal at the 4:26 mark, making the score 8-5. The Bulldogs scored two goals in the last 38 seconds of the third quarter: one from Grimwood and one from Llerandi with 1.2 seconds to go.
 
Fourth Quarter
 
Pierpont tied the score 8-8 with 11:11 left in regulation. Godwin's game-winner came nine minutes later. Wingate outshot Florida Tech 8-2 in the final frame.
 
TURNING POINT
 
Wingate's two goals in the final 38 seconds of the third quarter turned the momentum back to the Bulldogs.
 
NOTABLES
 
-Wingate opens its 2018 season with three nationally-ranked opponents: Florida Tech (18), Mercyhurst (11) and Indianapolis (21). The Bulldogs will also face number seven Lenoir-Rhyne and number one Limestone later in the season.
 
QUOTABLES
 
Wingate head men's lacrosse coach Tim Boyle: "I am very proud of the way our boys battled back after going down three in the third quarter. We started off fast in the game and capitalized on some unforced errors from Florida Tech, but once they settled down…you could see that they are a hard-working tough team which never quits."
 
"It was great to see both Jacob Ormerod and Seth Grimwood back on the field playing in a real game for the first time since 2016. We are very proud of both of them and their determination to get back on the field to end their career the way the wanted to."
 
"We still have a lot to work on and we need to fix things which aren't working right now…early season lacrosse can be interesting at times. Now we need to get back to work to prepare for our next opponent Mercyhurst. As always, they are a talented, well-coached program. It will take everything we have to be successful."
 
ON THE HORIZON

Wingate faces number 11 Mercyhurst (Pa.) on Sunday, Feb. 18 in Ashland, Va. The first face-off is slated for 12 noon. Florida Tech hosts Young Harris (Ga.) the same day at 1 p.m.