Wingate, N.C.—-Junior midfielder Leah Knowles scored on a free-position shot as time expired on Saturday afternoon, lifting the Wingate University Bulldogs over 16th-ranked Limestone University in South Atlantic Conference women's lacrosse action at Graham Gill Field. The Bulldogs improve to 4-0 on the season, while the Saints drop to 3-3. The win marks the first in program history over a ranked opponent. The 4-0 start is also the best in program history.
 
KEY STATS
 
- Limestone out-shot Wingate 29-26
- The Bulldogs held a slight 20-18 advantage in shots on goal
- The Saints had 13 draw controls compared to WU's 12
- The 'Dogs turned it over 20 times, while LU committed 21 turnovers
- Wingate collected 17 of 31 ground balls
- The Bulldogs recorded seven assists on 12 goals, holding Limestone to two assists on 11 scores
 
KEY BULLDOGS
 
- Knowles had three goals, including the game-winner at the buzzer, while adding three draw controls and two caused turnovers
- Bella Pellet registered three goals on three shots
- Becca Ruiz also added three goals for the Bulldogs, adding a team-high four DCs
- Claire Fuchs had one goals and two assists
- Nelida Watson had a game-high three assists
- Paige Kamer and Kayleigh Hiles registered goals
- Avery Scherer and Danielle Scarfogliero each recorded one assist
- Abby Burke piled up seven ground balls and two CTs
- Madi Caldwell added two ground balls and two CTs
- Megan Biase recorded seven saves, earning the win
 
FIRST PERIOD
 
- Pellet got the 'Dogs on the board just over a minute in
- Limestone's Shannon Creagh scored two unanswered goals to take their first lead
- Ruiz scored her first goal of the afternoon two minutes later on an assist from Watson
- The Saints matched the goal a minute later
- Knowles scored for the third tie of the first period
 
SECOND PERIOD
 
- Fuchs and Kamer scored in the opening four minutes of the second period to give the 'Dogs a two-goal advantage
- Ruiz scored off a free position at the 7:08 mark to give Wingate a 6-3 lead
- Limestone scored for the first time in the second period with 31 seconds left, cutting the deficit to two goals at the break
 
THIRD PERIOD
 
- The Saints scored to open the second half
- Pellet found the back of the net three and a half minutes later restored the two-goal Wingate lead
- Keira Crilly scored from a free position
- Knowles answered back with a free-position goal at the 4:44 mark
- Gracie DePaul once again brought Limestone to within one score
- Ruiz answered off a feed from Scarfogliero to give Wingate a 9-7 lead heading into the final period
 
FOURTH PERIOD
 
- Fuchs found Pellet for a goal to give the 'Dogs a three-goal lead
- The Saints rattled off three unanswered goals, tying the game at the 8:43 mark
- Hiles scored off a Scherer assist to give Wingate a one-goal advantage with just over six minutes left
- DePaul knotted the game once again at the 3:46 mark
- After Limestone's potential game-winning shot hit the post, the Bulldogs came down and forced a Limestone foul with a second remaining
- Knowles fired in the deciding score as the final buzzer sounded, giving the 'Dogs their first win in program history over the Saints
 
UP NEXT
 
- The 'Dogs head to Florida for Spring Break, playing at Palm Beach Atlantic on Monday before taking on Florida Southern on Wednesday.
- Both games begin at 11 a.m.