Gaffney, S.C.----For the first time in program history, the Wingate University Bulldogs are SAC champions. The 10th-ranked Bulldogs raced out to an 11-3 lead in the first quarter Saturday afternoon, cruising to a 19-10 victory at #25 Limestone University in South Atlantic Conference women's lacrosse action. The Bulldogs push their winning streak to 11, moving to 15-2 overall while ending league play with a perfect 10-0 mark in the SAC. The Saints fall to 13-3 overall and 8-2 in league play.

THOUGHTS FROM HEAD COACH ABBY WILEY

"I couldn't be more proud of this group of young ladies. Regular season SAC champions for the first time in program history is something they have all worked so hard for. The determination, passion, and grit is unmatched. To the alumni who helped build this, thank you!"

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-shot Limestone 28-25
- The Bulldogs held a 26-17 advantage in shots on goal
- The 'Dogs won 19 of the 32 draw controls
- The Saints held an 18-17 advantage in ground balls
- WU converted 11-of-15 clear attempts; Limestone was nine-for-15
- The Bulldogs turned it over 17 times compared to 15 from the Saints

KEY BULLDOGS

- Leah Knowles had seven goals, an assist, seven draw controls and two caused turnovers
- Nelida Watson poured in four goals, adding two assists
- Kaleigh Wilgeroth added three goals and an assist to go along with three ground balls
- Paige Kamer had a goal and three assists, adding a draw control and ground ball
- Becca Ruiz contributed a goal, two assists, three draw controls, three ground balls and two CTs
- Bella Pellet had a pair of goals and two draw controls
- Julia Garvin handed out two assists
- Blake Clouser added a goal
- Megan Biase registered seven saves on the day

NOTES

- First SAC title in program history
- Ties last year's program record of 15 wins
- New Wingate record with 10 SAC wins
- The Bulldogs will be the number one seed in next week's SAC Tournament
- The 'Dogs outscored league opponents 193-52 on the season
- Kamer finishes the regular season as the league leader in assists (53) and points (86)
- Biase is the SAC leader in save percentage (55.8 percent) and goals-against average (6.62)
- Knowles finishes second in caused turnovers, third in goals, points and draw controls and sixth in assists
- WU is the league leader in goals, assists, points, shot percentage, ground balls, draw controls, CTs and goals-against average
- Wingate won every SAC game by at least seven goals, winning eight of the 10 by double digits
- The 'Dog are outscoring opponents 113-28 in the opening quarter this season
- Kamer registered her 200th career point in the victory

FIRST QUARTER

- Pellet got WU on the board at the 13:39 mark off a Ruiz assist to tie it at one
- A Reese Hjertaas goal gave Limestone a 2-1 lead 30 seconds later
- Wingate scored the next six goals in less than three minutes to take a 7-2 lead
- Ruiz tied it at two off a Knowles assist, while a Pellet goal at the 12:22 mark off Kamer's assist put the 'Dogs on top
- Wilgeroth scored 15 seconds later, while Clouser's goal 50 seconds after that made it 5-2
- Wilgeroth and Watson capped the spurt with goals to push the lead to five with 9:56 to go
- The Bulldogs closed out the frame on a 4-0 run to take an 11-3 lead
- Watson and Knowles started the spurt, both scoring off Kamer assists
- Watson scored off a Ruiz assist at the 2:51 mark to make it 10-3
- Knowles scored with two seconds left to give the Bulldogs an eight-goal advantage

SECOND QUARTER

- Limestone scored the first two goals of the frame to cut the lead to six
- Knowles answered with the final two goals of the half off assists from Wilgeroth and Watson to make it 13-5

THIRD QUARTER

- Knowles struck again to start the third frame to extend the lead to nine
- Kamer gave Wingate a 10-goal lead at the 12:52 mark
- Another goal from Knowles seven minutes later made it 16-6

FOURTH QUARTER

- A Joscelin Martin goal six minutes in pulled the Saints within eight
- Wilgeroth and Watson scored off two Garvin assists in a 45-second span to make it 18-8
- Knowles scored WU's final goal of the day off a Watson assist with 4:26 remaining

UP NEXT

- Wingate is the number one seed in the SAC Tournament
- The Bulldogs have an opening-round bye, opening tourney play Friday at 5 p.m.
- Wingate will face the winner of Tuesday's Lenoir-Rhyne vs. UVA Wise contest
- The semifinals and finals will take place at the Matthews Sportsplex in Matthews, N.C.
- The championship game will take place Sunday at 4 p.m.