Harrogate, Tenn.---- The 18th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs utilized an 8-0 second quarter to defeat Lincoln Memorial University 18-7 Saturday afternoon in South Atlantic Conference men's lacrosse action at LMU Lacrosse Complex. The two-time defending SAC tournament champion Bulldogs are 7-3 overall and 3-1 in league play, while the Railsplitters fall to 3-8 overall and 1-4 in conference play.
 
THOUGHTS FROM TIM BOYLE
 
"We started off a little slow in the first with a 2-1 lead at the end of the quarter. Our offense woke up after this and we were able to have some success. The defense did a very good job limiting their better players all game. We are excited to get back on the winning side after two straight losses. We need to get ready for another SAC battle next weekend against Newberry."
 
KEY STATS
 
- Wingate outshot Lincoln Memorial 52-23
- 'Dogs held a 38-13 advantage in shots on goal
- The Bulldogs had 46 ground balls, compared to 22 for the Railsplitters
- WU won 17 face-offs, LMU won 10
- Neither team had any luck with extra-man opportunities, as Wingate was zero-for-three and LMU was zero-for-two
 
KEY BULLDOGS
 
- Dominic Piazza had a game-high four goals, also handing out one assist
- Bobby Padden piled up two goals and five assist for a game-high seven points
- Conor Gronbach also notched two goals, handing out three assists
- Ryan Ormerod registered two goals and an assist
- Mark Taccard and Matt Calleri each found the back of the net twice
- 10 Bulldogs scored at least one goal Saturday
- Eight WU players dished out at least one assist
- Wyatt Weiseman won eight-of-11 face-offs
- Alex Cordero collected five saves for the 'Dogs
 
NOTES
 
- Wingate improves to 6-0 all time against LMU, and 2-0 in Harrogate
- The 'Dogs racked up a  season-high 32 points
- The Bulldogs notched 18 goals which ties a season high
- The 14 assists are also a season high
- Padden's five assists and seven points are both career highs

FIRST PERIOD
 
- The first 10 minutes of the game went scoreless
- Wingate offense started slow, but got on the board first when Gronbach found the back of the net with 4:30 to go
- LMU tied it at 1-1 with 53 seconds to go
- The Wingate defense would hold the Railspillters scoreless for the next 23 minutes of play
- Joe Cooper notched the final goal of the frame with just three seconds remaining
 
SECOND PERIOD
 
- WU registered 15 shots on goal in the second frame, netting eight goals
- The Bulldog defensive unit did not allow a shot on goal
- Taccard started the scoring at the 12:55 mark
- Wingate would get goals Ormerod and Gronbach
- Padden found the back of the net twice in the flurry
- Piazza would notch three goals in the second frame, capping the scoring at the 2:12 mark to make it 10-1
 
THIRD PERIOD
 
- The 'Dogs started the second half on a 4-0 run to push the lead to 13
- Piazza found the back of the net with 13:23 on the clock
- Less than a minute later Ormerod would score for Wingate
- WU would get a goal from Taccard, and Gary Pierpoint to take the 14-1 advantage
- Chris Tucker netted a goal for LMU with 6:54 remaining to complete the scoring in the frame

FOURTH PERIOD
 
- Wingate extended the lead to 14 when Calleri netted a pair of quick goals
- The first Calleri goal came at the 12-minute mark, the second came just 41 seconds later
- Lincoln Memorial scored the next two, with Reggie Golfin scoring with 9:27 to go
- The 'Dogs answered with goals from Liam Johnson and Stefan Caray to take an 18-4 lead
- LMU ended the game on a 3-0 run, Ian Cook scored with 3:08 left to play
- Joe Conklin would net the final two goals for the Railsplitters over the final two minutes
 
UP NEXT
 
- Wingate starts a three-game home stand, hosting Newberry next Saturday
- The Bulldogs entertain Coker on April 10