Wingate, N.C.----The 12th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs hosted their second top-five opponent of the season Monday afternoon and had another tight setback, falling 16-12 against second-ranked Tampa in NCAA Division II women's lacrosse action at Irwin Belk Stadium. The Spartans move to 5-1 on the year, while the Bulldogs fall to 4-2 overall. Wingate dropped a 14-12 contest against #4 Florida Southern earlier this season.

KEY STATS

- Tampa out-shot Wingate 31-27
- The Spartans held a 25-19 advantage in shots on goal
- The Bulldogs committed 23 turnovers; Tampa turned it over 20 times
- UT held a 22-16 advantage in ground balls
- Wingate won 18 of the 32 draw controls

KEY BULLDOGS

- Leah Knowles had six goals, eight draw controls, two ground balls and a caused turnover
- Danielle Scarfogliero added two goals and an assist
- Becca Ruiz and Kaleigh Wilgeroth contributed two goals apiece
- Nelida Watson handed out an assist
- Megan Biase had nine saves, three ground balls and a caused turnover
- Caroline Heffner piled up four caused turnovers and a ground ball
- Julia Garvin caused three turnovers, with Bella Pellet adding two CTs, two ground balls and two draw controls
- Katie Koroly registered four draw controls, two ground balls and a CT

FIRST QUARTER

- Knowles started the scoring in the opening minute
- Wilgeroth scored off a Watson assist at the 5:43 mark to put the 'Dogs on top 2-1
- Emma McLoughlin scored with 2:17 remaining to give Tampa a 3-2 lead

SECOND QUARTER

- The Spartans outscored the 'Dogs 9-5 in the second frame
- Tampa scored four times in the first five minutes, with an Olivia Mott goal making it 7-2
- Wilgeroth cut the lead to five, but Sarah Hinkle's goal made it 8-3 at the 6:57 mark
- Ruiz and Scarfogliero scored to pull the 'Dogs back within three with five minutes left
- Sarah Hinkle made it 9-5 with a goal, but Knowles answered at the 3:38 mark to make it 9-6
- UT scored the next three goals, taking a six-goal lead on a McLoughlin goal with 31 seconds left
- Scarfogliero scored with nine seconds to go to make it 12-7

THIRD QUARTER

- McLoughlin scored six minutes into the half to put the Spartans back on top by six
- Ruiz and Knowles answered with goals to make it 13-9 heading to the final frame

FOURTH QUARTER

- McLoughlin's goal in the opening minute pushed the lead back to four
- Knowles scored 40 seconds later to make it 14-10
- A Cece Colombo goal at the 11:04 mark gave the Spartans a 15-10 advantage
- Knowles scored with 3:37 to go to trim the deficit to four
- McLoughlin answered a minute later to make it 16-11
- Knowles scored the final goal of the day with 1:33 to go

UP NEXT

- Wingate is back in action Thursday, hosting Shippensburg at 11 a.m.