VIDEO | Chandler Hendrix Interview

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs open the 2021 season on the road this weekend, traveling to Barton Saturday afternoon for a 4 p.m. start. The Bulldogs went 15-5-2 in the 2019 season, advancing to the SAC Tournament championship game for the ninth time in 10 years, then winning a pair of NCAA Tournament contests over top-20 opponents to make a trip to the NCAA Sweet 16. Wingate was back in action in an abbreviated 2021 spring season, playing an eight-game league schedule.

The Bulldogs were picked to finish fourth in the preseason SAC poll, after finishing the 2019 season ranked 16th in the United Soccer Coaches poll. Wingate has five preseason All-SAC selections, including first team honorees Kristen DeBiase, McKenna DeLong and Chandler Hendrix to go along with second team selections Kaitlyn Cox and Caroline Peters.

"We brought in a lot of new faces to the locker room this fall so we've really emphasized coming together as a group," Abbey Frail says. "The older players have done a good job about helping the new players adjust to our system and culture over the past few weeks. We've got four players back for their fifth year of eligibility which has been a massive help in this regard."

With so much experience and talent returning from the 2019 group, the expectations are once again high for the Bulldogs. "As a group I'd say the girls have really high standards for themselves and each other on and off the field," Frail says. "2019 was a really great year and a lot of the current players were able to get a taste of what it's like to play on that kind of stage. That being said, this is a new group of players, so we've focused a lot on coming together as a group and building on the foundation we've laid over the past two years."

The Bulldogs are back on the field in early September after wrapping up an unusual spring season in April, giving the team less than five months off. "Obviously spring of 2021 was a bit more strenuous than a typical spring season would be for our sport," Frail says. "When the season ended we emphasized the need to take a bit of a break and let their bodies and minds rest. Overall I don't expect it to have an impact on this year given that we only played a handful of games in the spring though."

GOALKEEPERS

The Bulldogs have solid options at the goalkeeper position, including graduate student Allison Kite, along with transfer Katrine Thisgaard.

"The whole group has done well and competed hard throughout preseason," Frail says. Allison offers a lot of experience and leadership as a fifth-year senior, and Katrine has come in and impressed throughout preseason."

DEFENSE

The defense is anchored by a pair of preseason first team All-SAC selections in DeBiase and Hendrix. DeBiase has been an All-SAC and All-Region honoree throughout her career, while Hendrix has also garnered all-conference recognition in the past. The duo helped Wingate lead the SAC in goals-against average through the SAC Tournament in the 2019 season.

"Chandler and Kristen have been very solid for us over the past several years and between them, they offer great experience at this point in their careers," Frail says. "After both Carly Veit and Kalyn Williamson graduated, we'll be seeing some new faces on the defensive side. Both Nicole Cristy and Jessica Capes have both done well throughout preseason along with a few of the newcomers."

MIDFIELDERS

The midfield is another spot with depth and experience, led by the preseason all-conference honoree Peters, along with fifth-year player Morgan Zanardi.

"We return a lot of experience and talent in the middle of the field this year," Frail says. "Morgan coming back for her fifth year has been really positive in addition to having Caroline back to full strength. Sophia Husted has also come in and done a great job, and has carved out a solid role for herself as a freshman."

FORWARDS

The Bulldog attack is led by two more preseason all-conference honorees in DeLong and Cox, along with Alicia Rubio Garcia.

"This group has been really impressive since we arrived on campus," Frail says. "Alicia has worked quite hard over the past few years to develop her game and we're very excited to see what kind of impact she can have this year as a result. McKenna had a really strong finish to the 2021 spring as well and has big goals for herself this season. Finally, Kaitlyn came back for her fifth year. Like Ali, she's worked hard to develop her game and is really coming into her own as a player in her last year."

After Saturday's season opener at Barton, the 'Dogs are at home the following Saturday, hosting Shaw at 4 p.m. Wingate then opens SAC play at Queens on Sept. 15, followed by the first conference home game on Saturday, Sept. 18 against Carson-Newman at 4 p.m. The SAC Tournament gets underway Nov. 6, with the semifinals and finals Nov. 12 and 14 at the Matthews Sportsplex.