Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs scored 18 consecutive goals on Saturday afternoon, cruising to a 20-5 victory over North Greenville University to open the 2022 season at Graham Gill Field in NCAA Division II women's lacrosse action. The Bulldogs improve to 1-0 on the season, while the Crusaders fall to 0-2.

KEY STATS

- Wingate held a 38-16 advantage in shots
- The Bulldogs had a 32-13 edge in shots on goal
- North Greenville won 15 of the 27 draw controls
- WU picked up 21 ground balls compared to NGU's 15
- The Crusaders committed 17 turnovers; the 'Dogs had 14 turnovers
- Wingate was 16-for-18 on clear attempts, while North Greenville was 10-of-17

KEY BULLDOGS

- 10 Bulldogs scored on the afternoon
- Kayleigh Hiles piled up three goals and four assists
- Leah Knowles added three goals, two assists, three ground balls, three caused turnovers and three draw controls
- Becca Ruiz had three goals and an assist
- Blake Clouser and Madi Caldwell each scored two goals and tallied an assist
- Abby Burke and Claire Fuchs each registered one goal and two assists
- Nelida Watson and Avery Scherer recorded two goals in the first collegiate games
- Danielle Scarfogliero scored
- Emily Rango made eight saves, allowing five goals and picking up a game-high seven ground balls

FIRST PERIOD

- NGU's Dani O'Meara scored from a free position to give the Crusaders the early 1-0 lead
- Burke scored from the free position to tie the game at one apiece
- Watson and Scherer goals surrounded back-to-back scores from Hiles as the 'Dogs quickly took a 5-1 lead with just over eight minutes to go in the period
- Knowles, Fuchs, Cladwell and Scherer scored before the first 15 minutes were all said and done, as Wingate took a 9-1 lead

SECOND PERIOD

- Watson scored her first-career goal to open the scoring in the second period
- A Clouser goal fit between two Ruiz goals as the Wingate leaded expanded to 13-1
- Scarfogliero and Hiles piled on two more goals as the 'Dogs led 15-1 with four minutes left in the first half
- Knowles' goal from Caldwell capped the first-half scoring at 16

THIRD PERIOD

- The scoring pace slowed in the second half
- Clouser's goal opened up the scoring in the second half nearly five minutes in
- Caldwell's goal made it 18 unanswered scores for Wingate with less than four minutes left in the period

FOURTH PERIOD

- The Crusaders scored the opening two goals of the final period
- O'Meara and McCayla Richard were the goal scorers for NGU
- Knowles answered back with a goal from Clouser with over eight minutes to go
- O'Meara's goal was matched by a score from Ruiz
- NGU's Emma Mayew scored from a free position for the final play of the game

UP NEXT

- The 'Dogs hit the road next Saturday, taking on Belmont Abbey at noon
- Wingate returns to Graham Gill Field on Friday, Feb. 25, hosting Young Harris at 4 p.m.