Wingate, N.C.----The sixth-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs cut a six-goal deficit to two in the fourth period Saturday afternoon, but seventh-ranked Mercyhurst held on for a 16-13 victory in NCAA Division II men's lacrosse action at Irwin Belk Stadium. The Lakers move to 1-0 on the season, while the 'Dogs fall to 1-1 overall.

KEY STATS

- Each team took 46 shots and 31 shots on goal
- The Lakers had 17 turnovers compared to Wingate's 14
- Mercyhurst won 20 of the 32 face-offs on the day
- The Lakers held a 49-40 advantage in ground balls
- WU went three-for-six on extra-man chances; Mercyhurst was one-for-seven

KEY BULLDOGS

- All-American Danny Riley tied a career high with seven goals, adding four ground balls
- All-American Willie Grieco added a goal and four assists
- Braylon Baker netted a pair of goals
- Zach Samson had a goal and two assists
- Marc Cottage and Caden Castle added a goal apiece
- Joe Karnich and Joey Moran each contributed an assist
- Johnny Caponi piled up 15 saves
- James Kotcamp won 11 face-offs and picked up 10 ground balls
- Karnich led the 'Dogs with three caused turnovers, adding three ground balls
- Graham Tillett added two CTs and a pair of ground balls

FIRST PERIOD

- Samson scored off a Grieco assist to start the scoring four minutes in
- A Quinn Simonson goal put the Lakers on top 2-1 less than a minute later
- Riley's first goal of the day tied it at two
- Goals from Cottage, Grieco and Riley in a 90-second span gave Wingate a 5-3 lead
- Mercyhurst would score the next seven goals of the contest
- Two Myles Hamm goals in the final two minutes gave the Lakers a 6-5 halftime lead

SECOND PERIOD

- Mercyhurst outscored Wingate 4-0 in the second frame
- Ethan Landymore struck twice in the opening minute to make it 8-5
- Nicholas Mabe capped the scoring with 5:05 to go, putting the Lakers on top 10-5

THIRD PERIOD

- Castle scored off a Moran assist early in the third to end the Mercyhurst run
- Goals from Landymore and Hamm gave the Lakers a 12-6 lead with eight minutes left
- WU scored three straight, capped by back-to-back Riley goals to make it 12-9 at the 4:27 mark
- Riley added two more goals in a 21-second span to cut the lead to two with a minute remaining

FOURTH PERIOD

- Stephen Morley scored 90 seconds into the final frame to put Mercyhurst on top 15-12
- Baker pulled the 'Dogs back within two with a goal at the 12:04 mark
- Luke Ingianni scored the final goal of the contest with 8:35 remaining

UP NEXT

- Wingate is back in action next Saturday, traveling to Mount Olive for a 12 p.m. start
- The 'Dogs return home Saturday, Feb. 25 to host Tusculum in the SAC opener at 1 p.m.