Wingate, N.C.----The fifth-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs stayed perfect in league play and guaranteed at least a share of the regular season SAC title Saturday afternoon, prevailing 14-5 against Anderson University in South Atlantic Conference men's lacrosse action at Irwin Belk Stadium. Wingate wins its ninth straight, improve to 10-1 overall and 8-0 in the SAC, while the Trojans fall to 10-4 overall and 4-2 in league play. The Bulldogs can claim the outright conference championship next Saturday when they host Coker on Senior Day.

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-shot Anderson 41-34
- The Bulldogs held a 25-23 advantage in shots on goal
- The 'Dogs won 22 of the 27 face-offs on the afternoon
- Wingate committed 24 of the 44 turnovers
- The Trojans converted 21 of 26 clear opportunities; the Bulldogs were 15-for-24
- WU held a 45-28 advantage in ground balls

KEY BULLDOGS

- Danny Riley had three goals, an assist, four ground balls and two caused turnovers
- Jaxon Grant added three goals and three ground balls
- Willie Grieco contributed two goals and an assist
- Joey Moran registered a pair of goals
- Braylon Baker, Aidan McMahon and Caden Castle added a goal apiece
- Marc Cottage and Noah Taylor each added an assist
- James Kotcamp won 21-of-26 face-offs, piling up 11 ground balls while adding a goal
- Johnny Salamone had a pair of CTs and five ground balls
- Nick Arnold added two caused turnovers and a ground ball
- Trent Connolly piled up nine ground balls, adding a CT
- Johnny Caponi registered 14 saves on the day

FIRST PERIOD

- Kotcamp won the opening face-off and scored eight seconds in to put the 'Dogs on top 1-0
- Moran scored off a Taylor assist at the 4:37 mark to make it 2-1
- Grieco's goal with 3:46 remaining gave Wingate a 3-1 advantage

SECOND PERIOD

- Ryan Bitterman scored two minutes into the second to pull Anderson within one
- Goals from Baker and Riley put the 'Dogs on top 5-2 with 11:42 to go
- Matthew Rodgers answered with a goal with 10 minutes left to cut the lead to two
- Moran and Grant answered with goals to give WU a 7-3 lead with 7:46 to go
- AU scored the next three, cutting the lead to one on a Logan Gaddis goal at the 4:30 mark
- Riley scored two minutes later to give the Bulldogs an 8-6 halftime lead

THIRD PERIOD

- Branden Bushnoe pulled Anderson back within one less than five minutes into the half
- Wingate scored the next three to push the advantage to four
- Grant started the spurt, scoring off a Grieco assist at the 7:36 mark
- McMahon scored 50 seconds later, while Castle's goal off a Riley assist with six minutes left made it 11-7
- Goals from Radyn Badraun and Max Calabrese pulled Anderson back within two with 1:42 remaining
- Riley answered eight seconds later, scoring off a Cottage assist to make it 12-9

FOURTH PERIOD

- The Bulldogs scored the only two goals of the final frame
- Grant started it three minutes in to push the lead to four
- Grieco's goal at the 11:31 mark gave the Bulldogs a 14-9 advantage

UP NEXT

- Wingate is back in action Saturday, hosting Coker at 3 p.m. on Senior Day