Wingate, N.C.----The third-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs got a combined nine goals and eight assists from preseason first team All-Americans Bobby Padden and Willie Grieco Saturday afternoon, cruising to an 18-7 victory at Barton College in the season opener. Wingate moves to 1-0, while Barton falls to 0-1.

KEY STATS

- Wingate held a 47-27 advantage in shots
- The 'Dogs had a 31-15 edge in shots on goal
- Barton had 20 of the 31 turnovers
- The Bulldogs held a 29-22 advantage in ground balls
- Barton held a slim 15-14 advantage in face-off wins

KEY BULLDOGS

- Grieco had four goals and five assists to lead the attack
- The junior led the nation in assists and points last season
- Padden piled up five goals and three assists on the day
- He ranked in the top 10 nationally in points in 2021
- Adam Vodovnik netted four goals on the day
- He led the nation in goals last season
- All-American Danny Riley collected two goals and two assists
- Collin Fleming had a goal and an assist
- Daman Lingasin and Zach Samson each netted a goal
- Aidan McMahon registered an assist
- Donovan Jones won seven-of-15 face-offs; James Kotcamp won five-of-12
- Mike DiLegge piled up three caused turnovers and six ground balls
- Riley added five ground balls for the Bulldogs
- John Caponi registered five saves; KC Carlson notched three saves on the day

FIRST QUARTER

- Vodovnik, Riley and Padden found the back of the net in the first six minutes to make it 3-0
- Fleming's goal with 12 seconds left in the frame gave Wingate a 5-1 lead

SECOND QUARTER

- Barton cut the lead to two on a Mason Chaney goal with 4:06 to go
- Vodovnik answered with a goal 30 seconds later to make it 7-4
- Grieco scored twice in the final 2:10 to give the 'Dogs a 9-6 halftime lead

THIRD QUARTER

- Lingasin scored the first two goals of the half for Wingate, making it 11-7
- Barton's goal with 10:47 left in the third was the final goal of the day for the hosts
- Vodovnik scored twice in the final 70 seconds to give WU a 14-7 lead heading to the fourth

FOURTH QUARTER

- Padden and Riley scored in the opening six minutes to make it 16-7
- Grieco scored the final two goals of the day, making the final margin 18-7

UP NEXT

- Wingate is at home next Saturday, hosting #5 Mercyhurst at 12 p.m.
- The 'Dogs then take on #1 LeMoyne Sunday, Feb. 20 in Baltimore