Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs used a 9-2 run spanning both halves Saturday afternoon, picking up an 18-16 victory over visiting Belmont Abbey in NCAA Division II women's lacrosse action on a cold, rainy day at Graham Gill Field. Wingate moves to 2-0 on the season, while Belmont Abbey falls to 0-1 overall.

THOUGHTS FROM ABBY WILEY

"We battled a lot in the first half but I was really happy to see the team make the adjustments we needed to in the second half. It's great to see how many contributors we have on the field and how well the attack is working together."

KEY STATS

- Belmont Abbey out-shot Wingate 33-27 on the day
- The Crusaders had 29 shots on goal; the 'Dogs had 18 on target
- BAC won 19 of the 35 draw controls
- Belmont Abbey had 18 turnovers; the Bulldogs turned it over 15 times
- The Crusaders converted three-of-six free-position shots; Wingate was one-for-one

KEY BULLDOGS

- Kayleigh Hiles had four goals in five shots to lead the 'Dogs
- Kendall Wells piled up three goals and four assists
- Leah Knowles contributed two goals, an assist, seven draw controls and three ground balls
- Emily Blakely and Mia Kwiatkoski added two goals apiece
- Nina Cifolilli handed out three assists
- Becca Ruiz had a goal and two assists; Annie Plotts added a goal and assist
- Morgan Akers and Blake Clouser had a goal apiece
- Megan Biase piled up 13 saves on the afternoon

NOTES

- Wingate improves to 2-4 all-time against Belmont Abbey
- First time defeating the Crusaders at Graham Gill Field after losing the previous four
- Snaps a three-game losing streak to BAC that included a 20-13 home loss last year
- The 'Dogs have now won four straight dating back to the 2020 season
- Wingate has piled up 70 goals in those four games, scoring at least 17 goals in each
- Career-high four assists for Wells; 18th career game with at least five points
- Career-best four goals for Hiles, who had a career-high four assists in the opener last week
- Second straight multi-goal game to start Kwiatkoski's career
- First career multi-goal game for Blakely
- Third time in four games Knowles has had at least three points; seven draw controls one shy of career high
- 13th time Ruiz has had at least three points in a game
- Fifth time Cifolilli has had at least three assists in a game
- Career-high tying 13 saves for Biase
- Reigning SAC Defensive Player of the Week has seven double-digit save efforts in in 10 games

FIRST HALF

- Sarah Schaefer's goal two minutes in gave the Crusaders an early 2-0 lead
- Goals from Hiles, Blakely and Kwiatkoski put the 'Dogs on top by one with 23:49 to go
- An Emma Pherson goal put Belmont Abbey back on top at the 17:49 mark
- A Hiles goals, followed by back-to-back Wells goals put WU on top 8-7
- An Allysa Pearson goal put the Crusaders on top 10-8 with 6:18 to go
- Wingate would score the last three goals of the half and nine of 11 goals overall
- Hiles and Kwaitkoski scored to tie it at 10 with 2:57 left
- Ruiz scored in the final minute to put Wingate on top 11-10 at halftime

SECOND HALF

- Goals from Blakely and Knowles gave the 'Dogs a 13-10 advantage eight minutes into the second
- Wingate held Belmont Abbey scoreless for nearly 15 minutes of action in the huge 5-0 run
- BAC climbed within two with 11:51 left on an Angelina Perrone goal
- Clouser, Akers and Wells scored in a three-minute stretch to make it 17-12
- Knowles struck again at the 3:19 mark to make it 18-13

UP NEXT

- Wingate has two weeks off before traveling to Limestone for the SAC opener
- The 'Dogs face the Saints Saturday, Feb. 27 at noon
- Wingate is back home March 6 to host UVA Wise at noon