Matthews, N.C.---For the first time in program history, the Wingate University Bulldogs are the SAC Tournament champions. The top-seeded and eighth-ranked Bulldogs prevailed 14-8 over second-seeded Newberry College to claim the tourney title in South Atlantic Conference women's lacrosse action Monday afternoon. The Bulldogs win their 13th straight, improving to 17-2 overall, while the Wolves fall to 13-6 on the season.

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-shot Newberry 38-19
- The Bulldogs held a 23-15 advantage in shots on goal
- The Wolves had 24 of the 38 turnovers
- The 'Dogs converted 20-of-22 clear attempts; Newberry was 16-for-22
- Newberry held a 19-18 advantage in ground balls
- The Wolves held a slight 13-12 edge in draw controls
- The Bulldogs piled up 20 caused turnovers on the day

KEY BULLDOGS

- Paige Kamer had four goals and an assist
- Leah Knowles added four goals, six draw controls and three CTs
- Kaleigh Wilgeroth contributed three goals, an assist, a CT and a ground ball
- Julia Garvin registered two goals and an assist
- Bella Pellet had a goal, an assist, two CTs and a draw control
- Becca Ruiz notched a goal, draw control, caused turnover and four ground balls
- Claire Fuchs handed out an assist
- Katie Koroly had four caused turnovers and two ground balls
- Abby Burke added a CT and two ground balls
- Megan Biase registered seven saves on the day
- Knowles was named the tournament MVP
- Knowles, Wilgeroth, Kamer, Biase, Koroly and Burke earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team

FIRST QUARTER

- Goals from Pellet and Garvin gave Wingate a 2-1 lead with 5:40 to go
- A Serena Elias goal tied it at two with 4:41 remaining

SECOND QUARTER

- Kamer scored off a Wilgeroth assist to give Wingate a 3-2 lead with 11 minutes left
- A Knowles goal at the 6:18 mark put the 'Dogs on top 4-3
- Lana Howell scored a minute later to tie it at four
- Kamer scored 40 seconds later to give the Bulldogs a one-goal lead
- Knowles scored with two minutes left to make it 6-4
- An Emma Jobs goal in the final minute pulled the Wolves to within one at halftime

THIRD QUARTER

- Wingate scored the first three goals of the half
- WIlgeroth started it less than two minutes into the frame
- Kamer scored off Garvin's assist with seven minutes left to make it 8-5
- Knowles scored off Pellet's assist at the 4:54 mark to push the lead to four
- A Ruiz goal off a Kamer assist with 3:30 remaining gave WU a 10-6 advantage

FOURTH QUARTER

- Wilgeroth scored 90 seconds to make it 11-6
- Knowles scored two minutes later to extend the lead to six
- Goals from Elias and Hanna Bond made it 12-8 with 9:28 remaining
- Wigeroth's goal three minutes later put the 'Dogs on top by five
- Kamer scored off a Fuchs assist with 1:26 left to make the final margin 14-8

UP NEXT

- Wingate waits to hear its postseason fate later this week
- The NCAA Tournament field will be announced Sunday, May 7 at 8:30 p.m. on NCAA.com
- The eighth-ranked Bulldogs made their first-ever NCAA Tourney appearance last year