Video | Gary Hamill Interview
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Wingate, N.C.----The defending South Atlantic Conference champion Wingate University Bulldogs open the 2023 season at home this weekend, hosting a pair of games against top-25 opponents. The 'Dogs take on #7 Florida Tech Thursday at 7 p.m., then welcome #11 Rollins to town Saturday evening for a 5 p.m. start. The Bulldogs went 10-5-7 overall in 2022, with a 6-1-4 SAC record, capturing the regular season conference title. Wingate won a pair of NCAA Tournament contests, advancing to the regional semifinals to finish the season ranked #14. The 'Dogs are ranked 14th in the preseason top 25 poll.

"We've been very happy with how everything has gone in the preseason," head coach Gary Hamill says. "It has been very good, we've got a solid core of returning players that will be in their fifth year. We went out to recruit like-minded players, we've got some solid transfers along with freshman, trying to bridge the gap between upperclassmen and our younger fellows. Even though we won the SAC title last year, there's certainly room for improvement and we focused on certain areas where we think we have gotten much stronger."

The Bulldogs are no stranger to conference titles, capturing their ninth regular season title in program history last year, with five of those coming since the 2014 season. The 'Dogs also have five SAC Tourney championships, with three of those coming since the 2017 season. The Bulldogs made their sixth NCAA Tournament appearance since the 2014 season last year. Wingate has at least one victory in five of those six showings, highlighted by the 2016 national championship.

"Expectations and goals are always to win a conference championship," Hamill says. "If you do that, everything else falls into line. The number one goal is to win the regular season, then just go on from there, you should be well-positioned for postseason play. We've set a standard that is so high, winning games isn't enough. Winning championships is what are looking to do, we're always going to win games. That's the expectation."

DEFENSE

The Bulldogs are loaded with experience on the defensive side, with three preseason first team All-SAC honorees anchoring the back line, led by consensus first team All-American and reigning SAC Defensive Player of the Year Owen Marshall, to go along with Pedro Santos and Niclas Wittur. The 'Dogs will also have Devin Scully, who missed time in 2022 due to injury. In addition to their defensive prowess, the group contributed to the offense, with Marshall netting five goals including a pair of game winners. Wittur added four goals and an assist on the year, with the duo ranking second and third on the team in points on the year. Santos also contributed two goals and an assist.

In addition to the core of the league's top defense returning, Wingate has first team All-SAC goalkeeper Aleksa Janjic, who led the conference in save percentage and goals-against average.

"We're very happy to have everyone back for another year, and to be getting a healthy Devin Scully back will make us even stronger than last year," Hamill says. "It's been basically the same group for four years, they're all good individually and they work great together. Then adding a goalkeeper like Aleksa, he's got potential to be the greatest keeper we've had here."  

FORWARD/MIDFIELD

The midfield will be led by a pair of newcomers in Harry Bircumshaw and Zach Panagiotou. Up front, Fabio Rodrigues will be joined by another group of newcomers in Pablo Pozos, Tajay Grant and Niall Chinn.

"We brought in transfers in Harry and Zach, two very experienced players that have been successful in their collegiate careers," Hamill says. "The attack was a bit of a weakness last year, it will be good to have that kind of experience there. Fabio had a good preseason, he can be an impact player up front for us. We have Pablo, a freshman Pablo that's had a great preseason. Then two more transfers in Tajay and Niall that should also have an impact. A lot of pace and goal scoring capabilities have been added, we just put it together this weekend, see where we're at."

SCHEDULE

It will be another grueling schedule for the 'Dogs, starting this weekend with a pair of top-15 opponents. Wingate will then travel to Belmont Abbey and Emory & Henry before coming back home to host Francis Marion to open a three-game home stand that includes SAC matches against Carson-Newman and Catawba. Wingate has a big week later in the year, welcoming Lenoir-Rhyne and Limestone to Pride Park in late September and early October. The Bulldogs wrap up the regular season Nov. 1, hosting Coker.