Wingate, N.C.----The 11th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs scored twice in the final 2:12 Friday evening, taking down Lander University 15-14 in NCAA Division II women's lacrosse action at Irwin Belk Stadium. Wingate starts the season 1-0, while the Bearcats fall to 0-1. The Bulldogs have now won 14 straight games, dating back to last season.

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-shot Lander 37-23
- The 'Dogs held a 23-20 advantage in shots on goal
- The Bearcats had 22 turnovers; the 'Dogs turned it over 21 times
- the Bulldogs won 23 of the 32 draw controls
- Lander held a 22-20 edge in ground balls
- Wingate was 17-for-19 on clears; LU was 23-for-26
- The 'Dogs piled up 16 caused turnovers; the Bearcats had 13

KEY BULLDOGS

- Leah Knowles had five goals, an assist, nine draw controls, two CTs and two ground balls
- Kaleigh Wilgeroth added two goals and four assist with a draw control, CT and ground ball
- Claire Fuchs had three goals, two assists and eight draw controls
- Blake Clouser netted a pair of goals
- Emily Blakely had a goal, assist, four draw controls, CT and two ground balls
- Nicolette Diedrich and Nelida Watson added a goal apiece
- Katie Koroly had three caused turnovers, three ground balls and a draw control
- Krysta Churns and Katie Field each collected two CTs and a pair of ground balls
- Megan Biase had six saves and three ground balls

FIRST QUARTER

- Wingate scored three times in the first five minutes
- Diedrich scored the first goal of the year, while Knowles followed with a goal off a Fuchs assist
- Wilgeroth's goal put the 'Dogs on top 3-0 at the 10:51 mark
- Emmy Peterson got Lander on the board with 2:12 remaining
- Clouser scored off a Knowles assist to make it 4-1

SECOND QUARTER

- Lander struck three times to tie it at four on back-to-back Peterson goals at the 6:23 mark
- Blakely scored off a Wilgeroth assist 23 seconds later to put the 'Dogs back on top
- Wilgeroth set up Fuchs for a goal 33 seconds later to make it 6-4
- Mickey Burnett pulled the Bearcats back within one

THIRD QUARTER

- Knowles scored 90 seconds in off a Fuchs assist to make it 7-5
- Peterson answered, but a Knowles goal with 10 minutes left made it 8-6
- LU scored the next three, taking a 9-8 advantage on a Kasey Bronco goal with 1:38 to go
- Fuchs scored off Blakely's assist 24 seconds later to tie it at nine
- The Bearcats took a 10-9 lead on Ella Benson's goal with three seconds left

FOURTH QUARTER

- Watson scored five minutes into the final frame to tie it at 10
- Goals from Alyssa Suchan and Bronco gave Lander a 12-10 lead with 7:32 remaining
- Clouser scored a minute later to pull Wingate back within one
- Knowles scored off Wilgeroth's assist 13 seconds later to tie it at 12
- Wilgeroth scored with 4:56 to go to give the 'Dogs a one-goal advantage
- Burnett tied it at 13 with a goal at the 3:48 mark
- Lander regained the lead on Suchan's goal 44 seconds later
- Fuchs netted the equalizer off a Julia Garvin assist, tying it with 2:12 remaining
- Lander won the ensuing draw control, but Knowles forced a turnover
- She got it to Wilgeroth, who gave it back to Knowles for the winner with 1:20 to go
- Koroly won the ensuing draw control for the 'Dogs
- A Wingate turnover gave it back to Lander with 40 seconds left
- Bronco had a chance to tie it with 11 seconds to go, but was turned away by Biase

UP NEXT

- Wingate is back in action Wednesday, traveling to Mars Hill for a 6 p.m. start
- The 'Dogs return home next Saturday, hosting #15 Embry-Riddle at 12 p.m.
- The Bulldogs then host Florida Tech Monday, Feb. 19 at 12 p.m.