Charlotte, N.C.----The ninth-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs scored six of the first seven goals Saturday evening, getting huge days from the All-American duo of Willie Grieco and Danny Riley en route to a 19-14 victory over #10 Limestone in South Atlantic Conference men's lacrosse action at the 2023 Crown Classic in Charlotte. Wingate improves to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the SAC, while the Saints fall to 4-2 overall and 0-1 in league play.

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-shot Limestone 50-48
- The Bulldogs held a 33-30 advantage in shots on goal
- The Saints committed 20 turnovers while the 'Dogs had 11; WU caused 13 turnovers
- The Bulldogs converted 20-of-21 clear attempts while Limestone was 19-for-22
- Limestone held a 56-47 advantage in ground balls
- The Saints won 22 of the 38 face-offs
- Limestone went two-for-six on man-up chances; Wingate was one-for-three

KEY BULLDOGS

- Willie Grieco had four goals, six assists, two caused turnovers and two ground balls
- Danny Riley poured in six goals, adding an assist, two ground balls and a CT
- Joey Moran added four goals and an assist
- Kyle Spence contributed a goal, assist and three ground balls
- Aidan McMahon, Matt Papach and Braylon Baker scored a goal apiece
- Johnny Caponi piled up 16 saves, adding seven ground balls and an assist
- James Kotcamp won 15 face-offs and picked up 10 ground balls
- Joe Karnich added six ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers
- Peyton Farley scored a goal and notched a caused turnover
- Nick Arnold registered two caused turnovers and a pair of ground balls
- Johnny Salamone also caused two turnovers

FIRST PERIOD

- Austin Lamoreaux gave Limestone a 1-0 lead at the 9:22 mark
- Wingate answered by scoring the next six goals
- Grieco, Baker and Riley scored in a two-minute span to put the 'Dogs on top 3-1
- Grieco added two more goals to give Wingate a four-goal lead with 2:30 remaining
- Papach's goal with 1:46 to go made it 6-1
- Michael Starbuck scored with nine seconds left to pull the Saints within three heading to the second

SECOND PERIOD

- Farley scored in the opening minute to push the WU lead back to four
- Riley and Moran scored off Grieco assists to make it 10-5 with 8:49 remaining
- Riley scored off Moran's assist to push the lead to six at the 1:51 mark
- Tom Szalkowski scored with seven seconds left to make it 11-6 at halftime

THIRD PERIOD

- The 'Dogs scored five of the first six goals of the half to push the lead to nine
- Moran, Riley and Grieco scored in the first six minutes to make it 14-6
- McMahon and Moran both scored off Grieco assists to make it 16-7 with 6:30 to go
- Chris Erneston scored at the 2:03 mark to cut the lead to eight heading to the final frame

FOURTH PERIOD

- Michael McGarry's goal with 12:28 remaining pulled the Saints within six
- Spence answered to make it 17-10 at the 11:08 mark
- Limestone scored four straight, making it 17-14 on back-to-back McGarry goals with 7:15 to go
- Riley scored off another Grieco assist to push the lead back to four with 6:12 remaining
- Riley capped the scoring on the night at the 1:23 mark off Caponi's assist, making it 19-14

UP NEXT

- Wingate is back in action Saturday, hosting Newberry at 1 p.m.