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Indianapolis, Ind.----For the third time in the last four seasons, the sixth-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs have earned a bid to the NCAA Division II men's lacrosse tournament. The Bulldogs are the number two seed in the NCAA South Regional, which will take place in Hickory, N.C. Wingate will open up tournament action against third-seeded and 10th-ranked UIndy Sunday, May 16 at 4 p.m. The 'Dogs enter NCAA Tourney play 11-2 overall, going 8-1 in league play.

#2 Lenoir-Rhyne is the number one seed in the regional and will serve as the host school. #6 Wingate is the two seed, followed by #10 UIndy with the three seed. #12 Mount Olive earns the number four seed, with third-ranked Tampa rounding out the field as the number five seed.

Mount Olive and Tampa will play Friday afternoon in the opening-round contest. The winner of that game faces Lenoir-Rhyne Sunday at 1 p.m. Wingate and UIndy get underway at 4 p.m. Sunday. The two winners from Sunday will meet May 23 in the national semifinals. The national championship game is slated for Sunday, May 30 at 1 p.m. in East Hartford, Conn.

Wingate earns an NCAA Tournament bid for the third time in the last four seasons and fourth time in program history. Prior to the 2017 season, the 'Dogs had only earned one NCAA Tournament bid, coming in 2001. Wingate earned a bid in 2017 and 2019. The Bulldogs are in search of their first-ever NCAA Tournament victory.

Wingate enters postseason play as one of the most balanced teams in the country, ranking second nationally in points per game and third in scoring offense, while ranking sixth in scoring margin and 17th in scoring defense. The Bulldogs rank second nationally in assists and fourth in ground balls.

The Wingate offense is led by Willie Grieco, who leads the nation in points, points per game, assists and assists per game. The sophomore has piled up 25 goals and a SAC-record 60 assists this season. Adam Vodovnik is the nation's leader in goals and goals per game, ranking fifth nationally in points and sixth in points per game. The senior has 58 goals this season, two shy of the SAC record, adding 14 assists. Bobby Padden has piled up 42 goals and 26 assists this season, ranking ninth in the country in points per game.

Reese Orman and James Houston both earned first team All-SAC honors in 2021, helping the WU defense lead the SAC in goals-against average. Orman has piled up 60 ground balls and 25 caused turnovers, with Houston contributing 21 caused turnovers. First team All-SAC midfield selection Danny Riley has added 27 goals and 10 assists on the year, earning first team All-SAC accolades.

Noah Ehinger has won 127-of-213 face-offs in 2021, leading the team with 67 ground balls while adding five goals. James Kotcamp has won 99-of-169 face-offs this season, picking up 46 ground balls to go along with two goals. KC Carlson ranks in the top five in the SAC in save percentage and goals-against average.

Wingate has already played three games at Moretz Stadium in Hickory this season, starting with a 16-15 victory over then-number-four Lenoir-Rhyne in the regular season, handing the Bears their lone loss of the season. The 'Dogs then defeated #13 Limestone 14-10 in the SAC Tournament semifinals in Hickory, before falling to Lenoir-Rhyne in the SAC title game.

Wingate and UIndy have met twice, with both games coming in Wingate. UIndy won 9-8 in the 2018 season, while the Bulldogs prevailed 13-7 last year at Graham Gill Field.

NCAA MEN'S LACROSSE SOUTH REGIONAL

Friday, May 14 (Hickory, N.C.)
4 p.m. | #4 Mount Olive vs. #5 Tampa

Sunday, May 16 (Hickory, N.C.)
1 p.m. | UMO-UT winner vs. #1 Lenoir-Rhyne
4 p.m. | #2 Wingate vs. #3 UIndy

Sunday, May 23 (Hickory, N.C.)
1 p.m. UMO-UT vs. LR winner vs. WU-UIndy winner

Sunday, May 30 (East Hartford, Conn.)
1 p.m. | National Championship Game