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Charlotte, N.C.----The South Atlantic Conference men's and women's soccer tournaments are in Charlotte this weekend, with the semifinals Friday at American Legion Stadium. The top-seeded and 10th-ranked Wingate men will get the action started Friday, facing fourth-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne at 11 a.m. The Sixth-seeded Bulldog women wrap up quarterfinal Friday, taking on second-seeded Catawba at 8 p.m. All games will air on FloSports. Tickets are available online and in-person. Tickets for Friday's action are $11 for adults and $2 for college students with ID. American Legion Stadium does have a clear bag policy.

Men's Semifinals
#1 Wingate (10-3-5; 6-1-4 SAC) vs. #4 Lenoir-Rhyne (10-4-2; 6-4-1 SAC)
11 a.m. – Charlotte, N.C. (American Legion Stadium)
Watch | Live Stats | Ticket Info | Bracket

HOW THEY GOT HERE

- Wingate earned the top seed on the final day of the regular season
- The 'Dogs ended the regular season on a nine-game unbeaten streak
- WU went 7-0-2 in the span that included a seven-game winning streak
- That streak started with a 2-1 victory at Lenoir-Rhyne
- Wingate also picked up SAC wins at Limestone and LMU
- The Bulldogs notched home wins over Mars Hill and Tusculum down the stretch
- It was a 0-0 draw at Coker on the final night of the regular season that clinched the title
- Wingate then defeated Mars Hill 3-0 in the SAC Tournament quarterfinals
- Lenoir-Rhyne closed out the regular season with big wins over Newberry and Catawba
- The Bears finished the regular season in a tie for third with Catawba and Carson-Newman
- LR had 19 points, just three points behind first-place Wingate and two behind second-place Coker
- The Bears got off to a 4-0-1 start that included wins over #11 Young Harris and #3 Nova Southeastern
- Lenoir-Rhyne was ranked as high as #7 in the nation this season

WHAT'S AT STAKE

- The winner is onto the SAC title match
- That match will take place Sunday at 1 p.m. in Charlotte
- The winner of this contest will face the winner of the Limestone vs. LMU match
- The 'Dogs are looking for their first tourney title since the 2021 spring season
- That championship came with a victory at Lenoir-Rhyne in the title match
- LR is looking for its first SAC tournament title since the 2006 season

LAST TIME THEY MET

- Lenoir-Rhyne struck 1:18 into the contest at Hickory
- Wingate finally got the equalizer in the 70th minute from David Sahakyan
- Emil Svenander netted the game-winning goal in the 88th minute
- The victory kicked off Wingate's seven-game winning streak
- WU entered the game 2-3-4 overall while the Bears were 6-2-1

SERIES HISTORY

- Wingate is 27-14 all-time against the Bears
- The Bulldogs are 3-1 against Lenoir-Rhyne at natural-site contests
- The last SAC Tourney meeting was the 2021 spring championship game
- Wingate won that contest 1-0 in Hickory to earn the tournament title
- The 'Dogs have outscored the Bears 88-64 all-time

ABOUT THE BULLDOGS

- Wingate captured its ninth regular season SAC title in 2022
- The Bulldogs have six SAC Tournament championships
- The 15 titles are the most in league history
- The 'Dogs have four regular season titles and four tourney championships since 2015
- Wingate won the 2016 national title, the first in Wingate or SAC history
- The Bulldogs have gotten it done with defense this season
- Wingate leads the SAC and ranks ninth nationally in goals-against average
- The 'Dogs have allowed just 11 goals through 18 games
- WU gives up just 8.4 shots per game against opponents
- Wingate is outscoring opponents 19-3 in the second half this season
- The Bulldogs have piled up eight shutouts on the year
- The 'Dogs have only allowed one opponent to score multiple goals this year
- That came Aug. 27 at Florida Tech, the second game of the season
- Wingate has registered five straight shutouts, going 452 minutes without allowing a goal
- All-SAC forward Emil Svenander leads the attack with seven goals and an assist
- He has four game-winners on the year, including each of WU's last three victories
- SAC Defensive Player of the Year Owen Marshall is the anchor of the defense
- The senior also has five goals on the year, netting a pair of game winners
- Second team All-SAC defender Niclas Wittur has four goals and an assist on the year
- Mattis Westberg has a pair of goals and two assists
- First team All-SAC midfielder Pedro Santos has collected two goals and an assist
- Fabio Rodrigues, Gui Fontes and Sahakyan each have two goals and an assist
- Mattia Ditommaso has a goal and three assists
- First team All-SAC goalkeeper Aleksa Janjic leads the SAC in goals-against average and save percentage

Women's Semifinals
#6 Wingate (10-3-4; 4-3-4) vs. #2 Catawba (15-2-2; 8-1-2 SAC)
8 p.m. – Charlotte, N.C. (American Legion Stadium)
Watch | Live Stats | Ticket Info | Bracket

HOW THEY GOT HERE

- Wingate earned the six seed with a 4-1 victory at Coker on the last day of the season
- The 'Dogs got off to a 5-0-1 start on the year
- That included wins over Young Harris, Mount Olive, UNCP and Barton
- The Bulldogs cracked the top 25, climbing as high as #21
- Wingate went on the road to earn key draws at Catawba and LR, the top two seeds
- The 'Dogs knocked off third-seeded Carson-Newman 3-1 in the SAC Tournament quarterfinals
- Sophia Husted scored 2:45 into the game, but CN tied it in the 12th minute
- Brianna Ditillo netted the winner in the 58th minute; Caroline Peters added a goal in the 64th
- Catawba has been among the top teams in the nation all season
- The Indians won their first eight until the tie against Wingate
- That was followed by five more wins in a row until a tie against Carson-Newman
- The first loss of the year came Oct. 19, a 1-0 setback at Columbus State, currently the #3 team in the nation
- Catawba has been ranked in every poll this year, climbing as high as #8
- The Indians defeated Tusculum 4-1 in the SAC Tourney quarterfinals

WHAT'S AT STAKE

- The winner advances to the SAC championship game Sunday at 4 p.m. in Charlotte
- The winner will face the winner of the Lenoir-Rhyne vs. Limestone match for the title
- Wingate is looking for its first SAC Tournament championship since 2014
- The 'Dogs are looking for their first trip to the title match since the 2019 season
- WU has played in nine of the last 12 SAC Tournament championship matches
- Catawba is looking to go back-to-back after claiming the 2021 tourney title with a win over Queens
- The Indians fell to Lenoir-Rhyne in the 2020 championship game

LAST TIME THEY MET

- The 'Dogs went to Salisbury and picked up a hard-earned point against the 8-0 Indians
- Catawba was ranked ninth at the time and were outscoring opponents 50-4 on the year
- The Indians held a 14-2 advantage in shots, but put just three shots on frame
- The Bulldogs had one shot on goal on the day

SERIES HISTORY

- Catawba leads the series 31-12-2 all-time
- The Indians are 2-0 in neutral-site contests
- The two teams tied in Salisbury this year, while the Indians prevailed 1-0 in 2021
- The teams met in the 2021 spring SAC Tournament quarterfinals
- Wingate scored in the 17th minute to take the lead
- Catawba struck in the 90th minute to tie it and send it to overtime
- The Indians scored with just over a minute left in the second OT for the win

ABOUT THE BULLDOGS

- The 'Dogs are looking for their fourth SAC Tourney title in program history
- Wingate took home the championship trophy in 2011, 2013 and 2014
- The Bulldogs have appeared in nine of the last 12 SAC title matches
- Wingate enters the semis 10-3-4 overall after going 4-3-4 in league games
- The 'Dogs climbed as high as #21 in the United Soccer Coaches poll
- Wingate is outscoring opponents 25-12 on the season
- The 'Dogs have a  0.71 goals-against average, allowing just 8.8 shots per game
- The Bulldogs have piled up eight shutouts on the season
- Wingate had five players earn All-SAC honors on Wednesday
- Peters earned first team honors, collecting four goals and eight assists on the year
- She ranks second in the SAC in assists and ninth in points
- Sascha Larsen earned second team honors, netting six goals while playing a key role in the WU defense
- Nicole Cristy earned third team accolades, another key player in the Bulldog defense
- Ditillo also earned third team recognition, notching three goals and four assists on the year
- Katrine Thisgaard also picked up third team honors, ranking fourth in the SAC in save percentage and goals-against average
- Alicia Rubio Garcia is tied for second on the team with four goals, adding an assist
- Husted has three goals and two assists on the year
- Yasmin Cowley has contributed a goal and two assists
- Jess LaFrancis has started all 17 games, netting a goal while being another key defensive factor