Wingate, N.C.----The 13th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs gave up the first two goals of the game Wednesday afternoon, then held Belmont Abbey College scoreless over the next 56 minutes, pouring in 15 straight goals to cruise to a 15-3 victory in NCAA Division II women's lacrosse action at Irwin Belk Stadium. Wingate starts the season 1-0 overall, while the Crusaders fall to 0-1.

KEY STATS

- The Bulldogs held a 36-23 advantage in shots
- Wingate took 28 shots on goal, compared to BAC's 15
- The 'Dogs held a 27-25 edge in ground balls

KEY BULLDOGS

- Paige Kamer piled up three goals and four assists to lead the Bulldogs, adding a CT and ground ball
- Madi Caldwell had three goals and an assist, while also causing a turnover and notching a ground ball
- Leah Knowles netted three goals, adding three ground balls and a CT
- Kaleigh Wilgeroth had two goals and an assist, with Becca Ruiz adding a goal and two assists
- Meghan Higgins and Emily Blakely contributed a goal and an assist apiece
- Nelida Watson also found the back of the net for the 'Dogs
- Katie Koroly handed out an assist, adding a team-best four ground balls
- Megan Biase piled up 10 saves, allowing just two goals in 45 minutes of action
- Riley Boone added a pair of saves for the 'Dogs

FIRST QUARTER

- Goals from Hailey Carroll and Olivia Carlino gave BAC a 2-0 lead at the 12:44 mark
- Wingate's first goal of the season came from Knowles, scoring with nine minutes left
- Wilgeroth scored 13 seconds later to tie it

SECOND QUARTER

- The Bulldogs scored all four goals of the second frame
- Watson's goal off Blakely's assist two minutes in gave WU the lead for good
- Goals from Kamer and Knowles in an 11-second span made it 5-2 with 4:07 to go
- Ruiz scored with 2:12 remaining to put the 'Dogs on top 6-2 at halftime

THIRD QUARTER

- The 'Dogs outscored the Crusaders 6-0 in the third
- Knowles got the scoring started off Kamer's assist two minutes in
- Caldwell struck twice in in a 45-second span, getting assists from Ruiz and Kamer to make it 9-2
- Caldwell's third straight goal at the 11:52 mark gave the 'Dogs an eight-goal cushion
- Wilgeroth's goal 40 seconds later made it 11-2, with WU scoring four times in two minutes of action
- Kamer's goal at the 6:03 mark put the Bulldogs up by 10

FOURTH QUARTER

- Kamer scored off a Wilgeroth assist two minutes into the final frame to make it 13-2
- Higgins found the back of the net with 9:11 remaining off another Kamer assist
- Blakely scored off a Higgins assist at the 7:50 mark to cap the scoring for the 'Dogs
- Carlino scored with 40 seconds left to make the final margin 15-3

UP NEXT

- Wingate is back in action Sunday, traveling to Young Harris for an 11 a.m. start
- The 'Dogs return home Sunday, Feb. 19 to host #4 Florida Southern