Wingate, N.C.-—-The Wingate University Bulldogs earned another convincing victory on Friday afternoon, riding a 10-1 lead after the first period to a 19-6 victory over visiting Young Harris College at Graham Gill Field in NCAA Division II women's lacrosse action. Wingate improves to 3-0 for the first time in program history, while the Mountain Lions drop to 1-6 on the season.
 
KEY STATS
 
- Wingate out-shot Young Harris 46-21
- The Bulldogs had a 35-16 advantage in shots on goal
- YHC had 21 turnovers compared to WU's 13
- The 'Dogs were a perfect 17-for-17 on clear attempts while limiting Young Harris to a 10-for-21 mark on clear attempts
- Wingate picked up 24 of the 35 ground balls in the contest
- The Bulldogs held a 17-12 advantage in draw controls
 
KEY BULLDOGS
 
- Leah Knowles led the Bulldogs with three goals, three assists, five ground balls, four caused turnovers and four draw controls
- Madi Caldwell scored a goal and dished out three assists
- Becca Ruiz registered two goals, an assist, three ground balls and six draw controls
- Nelida Watson recorded a career-high three goals on five shots
- Kaleigh Wilgeroth scored two goals and added an assist
- Kayleigh Hiles dished out two assists
- Bella Pellet and Danielle Scarfogliero each scored twice
- Meghan Higgins and Avery Scherer both had a goal and an assist
- Abby Burke and Claire Fuchs joined in on the scoresheet with a goal apiece
- Megan Biase and Riley Boone combined for 10 saves, allowing just six goals
 
NOTES
 
- This marks the first 3-0 start in Wingate women's lacrosse history
- The Bulldogs have successfully defended Graham Gill Field in each of their last 13 games
- WU's last loss at home was on Feb. 22, 2020
- The 'Dogs have outscored their opponents 28-2 in the first period this season
 
FIRST PERIOD
 
- Wingate put up three goals in the opening two and a half minutes
- Two Watson scores were separated by a goal from Ruiz
- Young Harris got on the board at the 8:51 mark from a goal from Morgan Lewis
- The Bulldogs rattled off seven goals in 6:19 of game action with two scores from Knowles, followed by goals from Wilgeroth, Pellet, Scarfogliero, Higgins and Scherer
- WU has led by eight or more goals at the end of the first period in each of their games this season
 
SECOND PERIOD
 
- Ruiz found Pellet for Wingate's eighth unanswered goal 15 seconds into the period
- The Mountain Lions responded with three goals of their own
- Two were scored by Ella Hancock before Ashlyn Fraley cut YHC's deficit to 11-4
- The Bulldogs broke a 13-minute scoring drought with a pair of goals within 30 seconds of each other
- Caldwell and Knowles found the back of the net to give WU a 13-4 advantage at the break
 
THIRD PERIOD
 
- Watson and Ruiz scored to push the 'Dogs' lead to double-digits in the first five minutes of the second half
- Lewis' goal at the 8:38 mark was the last score from either side in the period
 
FOURTH PERIOD
 
- Scores from Burke, Scarfogliero, Wilgeroth and Fuchs capped the Wingate scoring before Taylor Greenberg added the sixth Young Harris goal with 44 seconds remaining
 
UP NEXT
 
- The Bulldogs open up SAC play on Saturday, March 5, hosting #13 Limestone at 1 p.m.