Matthews, N.C.----The 15th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs claimed their fifth SAC Tournament title in program history Sunday afternoon, blanking Anderson University 1-0 in the championship match of the 2019 South Atlantic Conference men's soccer tournament at the Matthews Sportsplex. Wingate improves to 13-2-2 overall, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Anderson falls to 12-6-1 on the season. 
 
THOUGHTS FROM COACH GARY HAMILL
"Phenomenal. Absolutely phenomenal to win a championship. We talked about it earlier in the week. It was not pretty, but at the same time, who cares. They fought hard, a lot of pressure in the second half from a very good Anderson team. I'm ecstatic for them. This is the first generation after the 2016-2017 guys, so I am happy that we finally won something as a group.

On Devin Scully being named MVP
"He has had a phenomenal season. He is one of those guys that is going to remind me of Daman Gaona. He's going to go unnoticed all of those years. Between him and Owen, they are rock solid, this defense. I'm proud of Scully, he deserves everything he gets. He's had one heck of a season."
On The Goal
"Absolutely fantastic cross and what a finish. Owen what a service and what a great finish. Just an absolute fabulous effort."

KEY STATS

- Each team took 10 shots on the day
- Each team had three shots on goal
- Wingate took five of the nine corner kicks 
- The 'Dogs committed 14 of the 20 fouls on the afternoon
- Soren Nygaard scored the lone goal on the day
- Owen Marshall handed out the assist
- Jens Bergendorff had three saves to preserve the shutout 
 
NOTES

- Fifth SAC Tournament title for the Bulldogs
- Wingate has won three of the last five tourney titles
- The 'Dogs are 7-0-1 over their last eight games, outscoring opponents 26-2
- 11th shutout of the season and seventh in eight games
- Devin Scully was named the SAC Tournament MVP
- The freshman anchored a WU defense that notched three SAC Tourney shutouts
- Owen Marshall, Joshua Ochsenbein and Nicholas Wittur joined Scully on the All-Tournament team
- The four freshmen anchor a Wingate defense that leads the SAC in goals-against average and shutouts
- The 'Dogs have gone nearly 400 minutes without allowing a goal
- Third goal of the season for Nygaard; third assist for Marshall
- Nygaard finished his SAC Tournament with a goal and three assists
- The 'Dogs outscored opponents 8-0 in the SAC Tourney
 
FIRST HALF

- Wingate outshot Anderson 6-4
- Three of the shots for the 'Dogs were on frame
- Elliot Cutts had the best chance in the 28th minute, but his shot from the top of the box was just wide
- The 'Dogs struck in the 37th minute
- Marshall sent one into the box from the right 
- Nygaard one-timed it past the keeper from the middle of the box to get Wingate on the board

SECOND HALF

- The Trojans took six of the 10 shots in the final 45 minutes
- Anderson had all three shots on frame in the second half
- Bergendorff was up to the task, notching three saves
 
UP NEXT

- Wingate will learn its postseason fate Monday
- The NCAA selection show will air Monday evening on NCAA.com