VIDEO | Watch All Four Goals

Hickory, N.C.----The seventh-seeded Wingate University Bulldogs got a pair of goals from senior Taylor Krakower en route to an emphatic 4-0 victory at second-seeded and eighth-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne University in the opening round of the 2019 NCAA Division II women's soccer tournament Friday night at Moretz Sports Athletic Complex. The Bulldogs improve to 14-4-2 on the season, advancing to Sunday's NCAA Southeast Regional semifinals, while the Bears end their season at 15-4.
 
THOUGHTS FROM COACH JACK VUNDUM

"Unbelievable performance from the team. LR is a fantastic side with some of the best players in the country and have had a great year, but we came out here tonight and attacked the game right from kick off. Without the ball, we didn't give them time to play and with it we were clinical. Now we are going to rest and get ourselves ready for Sunday."

THOUGHTS FROM TAYLOR KRAKOWER

"Today the girls and I made a statement. We played our game and completely dominated. These girls played with everything they had and I'm so proud of each and every one of them. Now we just have to get refocused and ready for Sunday."
 
KEY STATS

- Lenoir-Rhyne outshot Wingate 15-7
- WU held the 4-3 edge in shots on goal
- The Bears took six corners, while the Bulldogs took three
- Krakower registered two goals, including the game-winner
- Chandler Hendrix added a goal
- Brianna Ditillo also scored a goal for Wingate
- McKenna DeLong, Kaitlyn Cox and Cat McCollom each had an assist
- Abbey Frail collected three saves and earned the shutout
 
NOTES

- Wingate is 13-20-4 all-time against Lenoir-Rhyne
- The Bulldogs are 4-12 when taking on the Bears in Hickory
- The 'Dogs are in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2015
- WU is making its sixth all-time tournament appearance
- Wingate advances to the second round for the third time in school history and first time since 2014
- The Bulldogs take down the Bears for the first time since 2016
- Krakower leads the Wingate offense in points, goals, and assists
- Frail notches her 14th career shutout and 10th of the season
- LR entered the match 11-0 at home this season
- The Bears had won 14 straight at home dating back to last season
- Lenoir-Rhyne was outscoring opponents 38-3 at home before Friday

FIRST HALF

- Just nine minutes into play Wingate got on the board with a Krakower goal
- Cox sent a cross from the right corner to Krakower
- Krakower settled just outside the box and finished into the far side of the goal
- The Bulldogs added another goal late in the opening half
- McCollom sent the ball into the box on a set piece from the left side of the pitch
- Hendrix headed home her fifth goal of the season to put WU on top 2-0 heading to halftime

SECOND HALF

- The 'Dogs wasted no time adding to their lead after intermission, scoring in the 48th minute
- DeLong sent the ball into the center of the field, finding Ditillo
- Ditillo settled and ripped the ball into the upper 90 past the outstretched keeper
- The Bulldogs would cap the scoring for the evening with 12 minutes remaining
- Krakower won the ball from the keeper near midfield, and rolled the ball into the back of the empty net
- The senior has six goals and seven assists this season

UP NEXT

- Wingate will take on North Georgia in the regional semifinals
- The contest will kick off at 2 p.m. Sunday in Hickory
- The winner advances to the regional title match
- The Bulldogs won their only regional championship in 2013