Wingate, N.C.—-The fourth-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs held the visiting Trojans from the University of Mount Olive to just two goals in the first half Tuesday afternoon en route to a 15-8 victory in NCAA Division II men's lacrosse action at Graham Gill Field. The Bulldogs improve to 3-1 on the season, while the Trojans fall to 3-2.
 
KEY STATS
 
- Wingate out-shot Mount Olive 52-33
- The Bulldogs held a 35-16 edge in shots on goal
- Mount Olive committed 24 turnovers compared to Wingate's 13
- WU recorded eight caused turnovers
- The Trojans won 14-of-26 face-offs and were three-for-three in extra-man opportunities
- The 'Dogs had a 38-30 advantage in ground balls
- Wingate was 17-for-18 on clears; UMO was 15-for-21
 
KEY BULLDOGS
 
- Willie Grieco led the Bulldogs with five goals and two assists
- The junior is up to 16 goals and 14 assists through four games this season
- Grieco entered Tuesday's game recording 7.67 points per game, good for second in the country
- Danny Riley scored three goals and collected four ground balls
- Adam Vodovnik contributed two goals, an assist, four ground ball and two CTs
- Bobby Padden dished out three assists
- Daman Lingasin and John Natoli each registered two goals
- Colin Fleming added a goal, while Aidan McMahon and Zach Samson recorded assists
- KC Carlson allowed two goals in the first half, making four saves and earning the win
- John Caponi made four saves in relief in the second half
- Peyton Farley picked up a team-high four ground balls and added three caused turnovers
 
FIRST PERIOD
 
- Wingate jumped out to a 5-2 lead after the first 15 minutes
- Grieco got the first score on the board three and a half minutes in
- UMO's Matthew Ateshian answered with a man-up goal
- Grieco found Riley to give the 'Dogs a lead they would not lose
- Scores from Fleming, Grieco and Riley put Wingate up 5-1
- Collin Speer scored for Mount Olive seconds before the end of the period
 
SECOND PERIOD
 
- The 'Dogs pitched a shutout in the second period, their second time allowing zero goals in a period this season
- Grieco broke an 11-minute Bulldog scoring drought at the seven-minute mark
- Padden found Vodovnik to give Wingate a 7-2 advantage heading into the break
 
THIRD PERIOD
 
- Riley's goal assisted by Padden opened the second-half scoring just 25 seconds into the second half
- The Trojans responded with their first goal in over 17 minutes of game time
- Grieco scored again, putting the 'Dogs up 9-3
- UMO's Lucas Shein answered, but scores from Natoli and Lingasin put Wingate up 11-4 heading to the final period
 
FOURTH PERIOD
 
- Each team recorded four goals in the final 15 minutes
- Mount Olive scored three of the first four goals in the final frame
- Vodovnik scored from McMahon in between UMO's second and third goals in the fourth period
- WU's lead was cut to as little as five with just less than 10 minutes remaining
- The Bulldogs responded with three unanswered goals in a four-minute span as Natoli, Grieco and Lingasin found the back of the net once again
- Mount Olive registered the final score of the game at the 2:25 mark
 
UP NEXT
 
- The Bulldogs take the short trip to American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte Saturday
- Wingate will open up SAC play in the Crown Classic in a tilt with #7 Limestone
- The game is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. in Charlotte