Wingate, N.C.----Number 18 Wingate University outscored Lenoir-Rhyne University 8-1 to end the game, giving the Bulldogs an 11-8 South Atlantic Conference men's lacrosse victory Saturday at Moretz Stadium. The Bulldogs boost their record to 5-1 overall. The LRU Bears are 0-5 overall with four losses to ranked teams. Both squads were playing their SAC opener.
 
WU seniors Conor Gronbach and Alex Llerandi had five points each, while classmate Wyatt Weiseman won 11-of-14 face-offs in his first 2019 appearance. The Bulldog defense held the Bears scoreless in the fourth quarter.
 
THOUGHTS FROM WYATT WEISEMAN:
 
"I was a little nervous coming back, but I knew with all the work I put in with my athletic trainer and with my teammates having my back that we would be successful as a face-off unit. It's always a battle against LR and I was just glad that I was able to do my job to help our offense put the ball in the back of the net. It was a good team win on the road and for the program. We're looking forward to our next game against Mars Hill." 
 
KEY STATS
 
-LRU held a slight 43-37 in shots; both teams had 24 shots on goal
-Wingate had 24 ground balls to 20 for Lenoir-Rhyne
-The two-time defending SAC champion Bulldogs won 14-of-23 face-offs
-The Bears converted two-of-three extra-man opportunities; the 'Dogs were one-of-four
-Wingate earns its second consecutive win over Lenoir-Rhyne
-The Bulldogs defeated the Bears 12-9 in the 2018 SAC tournament championship game (4/29)
 
KEY BULLDOGS
 
-Alex Llerandi had four goals and one assist
-Conor Gronbach had three goals and two helpers
-Ryan Ormerod contributed two goals and two assists
-Goalie Alex Cordero had 16 saves and two ground balls
-Wyatt Weiseman won 11-of-14 face-offs
 
FIRST PERIOD
 
-After an early LRU goal, Wingate rattled three straight scores to take a 3-1 lead
-Llerandi's extra-man goal (on a Gronbach assist) made the score 3-1 with 7:50 to go
-Lenoir-Rhyne responded with an EMO goal three minutes later to finish the first quarter scoring
-Bobby Padden, Ormerod and Llerandi scored first-quarter goals for the visitors
 
SECOND PERIOD
 
-The extra-man goal to end the first frame started a 6-0 run for the Bears
-An EMO goal ended the run as LRU took a 7-3 lead at the 8:57 mark
-Gronbach scored twice (7:07, 5:37) to help the 'Dogs cut the deficit in half
-Sean Moran concluded the first-half scoring for Wingate (5:19) to make the score 7-6 LRU at intermission
-Eric Dickinson had three of the five second-quarter scores for the host Bears
 
THIRD PERIOD
 
-Llerandi scored two goals (13:10, 10:57) to put WU up 8-7, a lead the 'Dogs would not give up
-A Gronbach goal (7:36) ended a 6-0 run for Wingate to make the score 9-7
-Lenoir-Rhyne scored its eighth (and final) goal at the 6:59 plateau
-Cordero had a game-high seven saves in the third quarter
 
FOURTH PERIOD
 
-Fittingly, Llerandi, Gronbach and Ormerod were involved in both Wingate goals
-Llerandi took a pass from Gronbach for a score at 10:49
-Ormerod concluded the day's scoring at 5:03, thanks to a Padden assist
-Cordero posted five saves in the final frame for 12 in the second half
 
UP NEXT
 
-#18 Wingate continues SAC play next Saturday, hosting Mars Hill at 1 p.m.
-Lenoir-Rhyne hosts SAC foe Tusculum the same day at 2 p.m.