Rock Hill, S.C.----Wingate University freshman forward Paul Ngongo made history Wednesday morning, becoming the first player in South Atlantic Conference men's soccer history to be named the league's Player of the year and Freshman of the Year. The Bulldogs had five players earn all-conference honors, with a league-high four players being selected to the first team. Ngongo is joined on the first team All-SAC by senior Elliot Cutts and freshmen Mikkel Fahlen Bruun and Owen Marshall. In addition, freshman goalkeeper Jens Bergendorff is a second team All-SAC selection.

Ngongo leads the SAC and ranks third in the nation with 17 goals this season, adding three assists for a league-best 37 points. The freshman leads the nation with seven game-winning goals, while ranking second nationally with 1.13 goals per game and third with 2.47 points per contest. His 17 goals are the most by a Bulldog since All-American Luke Mulholland scored 17 goals in the 2009 season. They are the most a Wingate freshman has ever scored in a season.

Ngongo has six multi-goal games this season. He had two goals and an assist to lead Wingate to a 5-1 victory over Chowan in his collegiate debut. Ngongo has 12 goals and an assist in his last seven games, leading the 'Dogs to a 6-0-1 stretch where WU has outscored opponents 31-2. He had two goals and an assist at Mount Olive, while scoring twice in the 3-0 win over Queens. He scored the lone goal in the LR victory, while scoring twice in the 5-0 victory over Salem. Ngongo also scored in the tie at Carson-Newman, while scoring a pair of goals in the regular season finale against Catawba. He scored two more goals in the SAC Tourney quarterfinal win over LMU. Ngongo scored game-winners in five of those seven games.

Cutts earns All-SAC honors for the third time in his three-year Wingate career. The senior is second in the conference with 13 goals, adding four assists to rank third in the SAC with 30 points. Cutts ranks 14th nationally in goals per game and 17th in points per game. He has at least one point in 12 of his 15 games this season. Cutts scored both goals in the Anderson win, while notching a goal and an assist in wins over Mount Olive and Queens. He scored twice in the Catawba victory, including the game-winner. Cutts piled up two goals and an assist in the SAC Tourney quarterfinal win over LMU.

Fahlen Bruun has started all 14 games he has appeared in during his freshman season. He has three goals and four assists on the year. Fahlen Bruun had a goal and an assist in his collegiate debut against Chowan. He handed out a key assist in Wingate's comeback victory at Coker. Fahlen Bruun scored at Tusculum, while notching an assist in the Queens win. He had another assist in the Catawba victory, while finding the back of the net in the SAC Tourney victory against LMU.

Marshall is also a first team All-SAC selection as a freshman. The freshman anchors a Wingate defense that leads the SAC with a 0.79 goals-against average, with every other team in the league allowing over a goal per game. The Bulldogs have piled up a conference-best nine shutouts this year. The 'Dogs are holding opponents to just 8.4 shots per game. Marshall has started all 16 games this season, playing more minutes than any player other than the keeper. In addition to anchoring the league's top defense, Marshall has a goal and two assists. His first collegiate goal came in the victory at Mount Olive. He registered assists against Salem and Carson-Newman.

Bergendorff earns second team all-conference accolades in his first season at Wingate. The freshman leads the SAC with a 0.86 goals-against average, allowing a league-low 13 goals this season. Bergendorff also leads the conference with eight shutouts, while ranking third with a .789 save percentage. He has shutouts in five of his last six games, registering three saves apiece in shutouts over Lenoir-Rhyne and LMU. Bergendorff notched six saves in his collegiate debut against Chowan, while recording five saves against Anderson.

The Bulldogs are back in action Friday, taking on Queens in the SAC Tournament semifinals in Matthews. The contest starts at 1:30 p.m. with a trip to Sunday's SAC championship game on the line. The semifinals and finals will be held at the Mecklenburg County Sportsplex in Matthews. Sunday's championship game is slated for a 1 p.m. kickoff.

2019 Men's Soccer All-SAC

First Team
F – Paul Ngongo, Wingate
F – Henrique Devens, Tusculum
F – Ibrahim Nadir, Newberry
F – Jacques Fokam-Sandeu, Coker
MF – Christian Provenzano, Coker
MF – Elliot Cutts, Wingate
MF – David Alvarez, Queens
MF – Mikkel Fahlen Bruun, Wingate
D – Michael Hornsby, Queens
D – Kensho Yoshikoshi, Carson-Newman
D – Owen Marshall, Wingate
D – Alan Brandao, Lincoln Memorial
GK – Bram Kaarsgaren, Carson-Newman

Second Team
F – Victor Cascon, Lenoir-Rhyne
F – Thaylan Silva, Carson-Newman
F – Harry Ward, Anderson
F – Caio Brandao, Queens
MF – Keegan Burton, Queens
MF – Danilo Seglio, Lincoln Memorial
MF – Will Sainsbury-Logan, Carson-Newman
MF – Nic Carsh, Carson-Newman
D – Georgios Charkoutsakis, Tusculum
D – Ryan Tyrer, Anderson
D – Sam Ottley, Newberry
D – Robi Obrstar, Coker
GK – Jens Bergendorff, Wingate

Honorable Mention
F – Goncalo Garcia, Lenoir-Rhyne
F – Tobias Solem Karlsen, Carson-Newman
F – Sofian Maghouz, Carson-Newman
F – Alexander Cox-Ashwood, Anderson
MF – Boris Basara, Queens
MF – Fabian Proesch, Tusculum
MF – Hunter Stroble, Lincoln Memorial
MF – Ben Bielby, Catawba
D – Monoel Dos passos, Queens
D – Clement Dagorn, Tusculum
D – Jeppe Christensen, Mars Hill
D – Dani Gongora, Tusculum
GK – Sebastian Kalk, Queens

Offensive Player of the Year:  Paul Ngongo, Wingate
Defensive Player of the Year:  Kensho Yoshikoshi, Carson-Newman
Freshman of the Year:  Paul Ngongo, Wingate
Coach of the Year:  Stephen Lyons, Carson-Newman
Fair Play Award:  Lincoln Memorial

Stat Champions
Goals per Match: Paul Ngongo, Wingate | 1.13
Points per Match: Paul Ngongo, Wingate | 2.47
Assists per Match: Christian Provenzano, Coker | 0.56
Goals Against Average: Jens Bergendorff, Wingate | .860
Save Percentage: Gal Elyashiv, Anderson | .809
Shutouts: Jens Bergendorff, Wingate | 7
Team Points per Match: Wingate | 8.93
Team Goals per Match: Wingate | 3.25
Team Assists per Match: Wingate | 2.43
Team Shutouts: Wingate | 9
Team Goals Against Average: Wingate | .790
Team Winning Percentage: Wingate | .788

 
WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
A comprehensive, independent and growing university, Wingate serves more than 3,600 students in North Carolina. Founded in 1896, the University offers 37 undergraduate majors as well as graduate and professional programs. Wingate is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences. Wingate blends in-class exploration with out-of-class application to deliver an uncommon and life-changing educational experience.
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past 13 years. Wingate is first in the 2000s among NCAA Division II and North Carolina's colleges and universities with 113 CoSIDA Academic All-America® selections. Wingate is tops among all SAC schools with 122 lifetime Academic All-America® honorees. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com. Current news and videos can be found at www.wingate.edu.