VIDEO | Tim Boyle Interview
VIDEO | Willie Grieco Interview

Wingate, N.C.----The defending regular season SAC champion Wingate University Bulldogs get the 2024 season started this weekend, hosting Florida Southern Saturday at 12 p.m. at Irwin Belk Stadium. The Bulldogs are coming off a 12-3 season in 2023, going 9-0 in league play to capture the regular season SAC title. The Bulldogs have won a pair of regular season SAC titles and three tournament championships in the last six years.

Wingate was picked third in the preseason SAC poll, while also checking in at number three in the Inside Lacrosse preseason top 20 poll. The 'Dogs are coming off an undefeated season in SAC play, a conference that has three of the top four teams in the preseason top 20 poll and four teams in the top 10. Wingate earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament last season, the fourth straight appearance and fifth in the last six years.

"The team vibe is good, it's positive, we have had a high-energy preseason," head coach Tim Boyle says. "We talk about potential and expectations all the time. Those are nothing without preparation and execution. The team goals never change: try to win the regular season SAC title, and make it to SAC title game. You do those things, and you'll be there on selection Sunday."  

The Bulldogs boast one of the most experienced teams in the country, led by fifth-year All-Americans Willie Grieco and Danny Riley. "It's great to have fifth-year guys," Boyle says. It's great for leadership, continuity and experience. Willie, Danny, Marc Cottage, John Natoli, Zach Pizzimenti and Thomas Sullivan are all fifth years. That's a lot of experience and leadership there."

ATTACK

The attack will once again be led by the perennial All-Americans Grieco and Riley. Wingate ranked sixth in the nation in scoring offense and points per game last season, ranking fifth in assists per game. Grieco repeated as the SAC Offensive Player of the Year, while also being named the USILA National Attackman of the Year for the second straight season. He piled up 39 goals and 49 assists last year, ranking second nationally in assists per game and points per game. Grieco has 117 career goals and 197 assists. Riley poured in 57 goals last year, adding 27 assists while ranking second in the nation in goals per game and third in points per game. He has 150 goals and 55 assists during his Bulldog career. Cottage, Kyle Spence and Caden Castle will also be key parts of the attack. Cottage had 26 goals and 11 assists last year, while Spence registered nine goals and 13 assists. Castle contributed 13 goals and an assist on the year.

"We got Willie and Danny back to lead the attack," Boyle says. "Kyle Spence has moved in there. We have three dodging, mobile attackmen, which is a different look than the past. We also have guys like Marc and Caden that will contribute."

MIDFIELD

The Bulldogs have great depth in the midfield, with a good mix of returners and newcomers. "We've got Aidan McMahon, Zach Samson, Ethan Schmidt, Jaxon Grant, Joey Moran, Matt Papach, Sam Goss, Ryan Woolfe and Jake Taylor all coming back and making an impact," Boyle says. "Then we've got newcomers Logan Cleary, Sean Clark and Luke Hickam. The best thing about this group is the depth. We can change things up; all the guys can bring different things to the table. We can have a lot of looks, a lot of different ways to score."

Moran earned preseason All-SAC honors this season after notching 29 goals and six assists last year. McMahon had 14 goals and six assists last season, adding 11 ground balls, while Grant had nine goals, nine assists and 33 ground balls.  Samson added five goals and six assists, with Papach collecting five goals, two assists and 12 ground balls.

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD

The defensive midfield will be led by a pair of All-Americans in long-stick midfielder Joe Karnich and short-stick middie Trent Connolly. "Karnich has been great as a long stick midfielder, with Graham Tillett also playing a key role, along with Norberto De Hoyos and newcomer Kaden Johnson," Boyle says. "It's another deep unit that can really put pressure on teams. Trent had a big year at the short-stick middie position last year, alongside Natoli, CJ Dorr, Mason McGivern and Joe Cassese. It's another position with good, quality depth."

Karnich piled up 50 ground balls last season, while leading the team with 30 caused turnovers, adding three assists. Connolly also registered 50 ground balls last year, notching 11 caused turnovers to go along with a goal and an assist.

DEFENSE

The defense is anchored by another All-American in Peyton Farley, the 2023 SAC Defensive Player of the Year. "We've got three experienced starters returning in Peyton, Nick Arnold and Johnny Salamone," Boyle says." Will Pape is another returner who will be a key contributor, along with newcomers Sam Deardorff and Carter Pechin. It's a group that has a good mix of experience and new blood."  

Wingate ranked second in the SAC in goals-against average, while ranking ninth nationally with 10.9 caused turnovers per game. Farley had 25 caused turnovers and 32 ground balls in 2023, scoring a pair of goals. Arnold also earned All-SAC accolades last year, notching 20 ground balls and 10 caused turnovers.

GOALIE

Belmont Abbey transfer Thomas Sullivan will be the starting goalie for the 'Dogs in 2024. "This is a really solid goalie group, led by Thomas with some reliable depth in Quad Williams, Ashton Loe and newcomer Matt Janotte," Boyle says. "They have all been working hard and pushing each other."

Sullivan piled up 200 saves last season, ranking ninth in the nation in save percentage and 16th in saves per game.

FACEOFF

The face-off unit will see be a younger unit, led by sophomore Dylan Rupprecht. "We've got Dylan and a couple newcomers in Logan Spaeth and Brian McGarvey," Boyle says. "It is a young group, but a very talented group with plenty of potential."

Rupprecht won 59 of 105 face-offs for the Bulldogs as a freshman, picking up 36 ground balls while adding a goal and an assist. He won 12 of 14 face-offs in the Mars Hill win, while also piling up 13 face-off wins and eight ground balls in the victory over #3 UIndy.

SCHEDULE

The Bulldogs will once again face one of the toughest schedules in the nation. Wingate will host Florida Southern, Mercyhurst and Maryville in February, all in the preseason top 20 led by sixth-ranked Mercyhurst. The 'Dogs take on fifth-ranked Tampa in the Crown Classic in Charlotte, then will host a pair of top-five SAC opponents in Limestone and defending national champion Lenoir-Rhyne in March and April. The Bulldogs will also hit the road to take on #10 Newberry. "Normally our out of league schedule has been good, but this year, every single team has been in the top 20 the last two years," Boyle says. "We're excited to challenge ourselves out of conference because the SAC is the toughest Division II lacrosse conference in the country."