Boca Raton, Fla.----The third-seeded and 15th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs scored three second-half goals Thursday night, taking down second-seeded and seventh-ranked Palm Beach Atlantic in the semifinals of the NCAA Super Region 2 Men's Soccer Tournament. Wingate improves to 15-2-3 overall, advancing to Saturday's Super Region 2 championship match, while Palm Beach Atlantic finishes 15-4-2 on the season.
 
THOUGHTS FROM COACH GARY HAMILL

"I'm so excited for the team. They fought very hard against a very good, experienced team."

KEY STATS

- Palm Beach Atlantic outshot Wingate 11-7
- PBA registered four shots on goal compared to three for WU
- The Sailfish took five corners on the evening, the Bulldogs took four
- The 'Dogs committed 12 of the 21 fouls
- Paul Ngongo scored a pair of goals
- Elliot Cutts registered a goal and an assist
- Jens Bergendorff had three saves
 
NOTES

- This was the first meeting between Wingate and Palm Beach Atlantic
- Wingate advances to the regional finals of the NCAA Super Regional 2
- It will also be the NCAA Division II National Quarterfinals
- The 'Dogs are in the national quarterfinals for the third time in program history
- The Bulldogs are 9-0-1 in their last 10 games, outscoring opponents 34-5
- Wingate is 7-0-1 its last eight NCAA Tourney matches, outscoring opponents 18-4
- The 'Dogs won the 2016 national championship 
- Ngongo collects his 21st goal of the season, ranking second in the nation
- Ngongo now ranks third all-time in goals in a single season for Wingate
- The Region Player of the Year has at least one goal in his last 10 games
- He has 16 goals and two assists during the stretch, and now has seven multi-goal games this year
- Cutts nets his 14th goal of the season, registering his third game winner
- Cutts is tied for second on the team with five assists
- The All-Region midfielder now has 32 goals in his three-year WU career
- Wingate is outscoring opponents 62-16 on the season
- The 'Dogs have scored multiple goals in 15 of 20 games this year
- PBA was unbeaten in its last nine matches, going 8-0-1 before Thursday
- WU started the tourney with a 5-2 win over #9 Young Harris
- The Bulldogs have outscored two top 10 teams by a combined score of 8-3
 
FIRST HALF

- PBA outshot Wingate 5-2 in the first 45 minutes
- The Sailfish registered the only two shots on goal in the first half
- Bergendorff was there for both saves
- WU took two corners, Palm Beach Atlantic took one

SECOND HALF

- The action got started just seven minutes into the second half
- Cutts won the ball at midfield driving forward into the attacking third
- He laid the ball off to Ngongo, who beat the keeper for his 20th goal of the year
- Nine minutes later PBA would collect the equalizer off the boot of Guillermo Deal
- In the 75th minute the Sailfish committed a foul in the box giving, WU a penalty kick
- Cutts converted, giving the 'Dogs the 2-1 lead
- Nine minutes later Wingate would get insurance
- Ngongo stole it from a defender finished from the left side of the pitch to make it 3-1
 
UP NEXT

- Wingate advances to the National Quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament
- The Bulldogs will face Super Region host and second-ranked Lynn
- The 'Dogs will play for the Super Region Championship Saturday at 6 p.m.