Video | Postgame Press Conference (Boyle, Spence, Clark)

Hickory, N.C.----The fifth-seeded and sixth-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs continued their impressive postseason run Wednesday evening, knocking off fourth-seeded and eighth-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne University in the opening round of the NCAA Division II men's lacrosse South Regional in Hickory. The 'Dogs win their fifth straight, improving to 16-4 overall, while the Bears end their season at 14-5 overall. Wingate advances to the national quarterfinals to take on #1 Tampa Sunday.

NOTES

- Wingate is making its seventh NCAA Tournament appearance fifth in the last six years
- Third NCAA Tourney victory in program history
- The first NCAA victory came against UIndy in 2021 in Hickory
- The 'Dogs knocked off Lindenwood 20-11 in 2022
- Wingate has won five straight games, including four straight over ranked teams
- The run started with a 12-11 double OT win at #13 Newberry, followed by a 17-16 OT win at #2 Limestone
- The 'Dogs took down #7 Anderson 17-11 in the SAC title game before Wednesday's win over #8 LR
- Newberry, Limestone, Anderson and Lenoir-Rhyne are the only four teams WU lost to in 2025
- Wingate piled up 17 goals against the Bears after dropping a 9-6 game in the Crown Classic in March

KEY STATS

- Lenoir-Rhyne out-shot Wingate 57-50, with a 35-26 edge in shots on goal
- The Bears won 21 of the 35 face-offs, holding a 37-27 advantage in ground balls
- The 'Dogs were 17-for-18 on clear attempts; Lenoir-Rhyne went 14-for-14
- The Bulldogs turned it over 12 times compared to Lenoir-Rhyne's eight
- Wingate went one-for-one on man-up chances; LR was one-for-two

KEY BULLDOGS

- Kyle Spence piled up two goals and eight assists to lead the attack
- Sean Clark poured in six goals, adding three caused turnovers
- Vinny Butrico scored four goals on the day including the last-minute winner
- Joey Moran added three goals and an assist
- Jaxon Grant contributed a goal, an assist and a pair of ground balls
- Sam Goss also scored a goal
- Dylan Rupprecht won 13 face-offs, picking up eight ground balls
- Peyton Farley notched a CT and three ground balls
- Quad Williams piled up 19 saves, while also handing out an assist

FIRST PERIOD

- Clark got the scoring started off a Spence assist two minutes in
- Morgan Madish tied it at one with a goal at the 8:29 mark
- Butrico and Clark answered with goals, putting the 'Dogs on top 3-1 with 7:17 to go
- A Jarrett Huff goal cut the lead to one at the 3:36 mark
- Moran's goal with 33 seconds remaining pushed the lead back to two
- Huff scored with 10 seconds left to make it 4-3

SECOND PERIOD

- Owen Scott scored in the opening minute to tie it at four
- Butrico's goal off a Spence assist put Wingate back on top 17 seconds later
- Nate Serrano scored a minute later to tie it, but Moran's goal off a Grant assist made it 6-5
- Donovan Powell scored four seconds later to tie it
- Goss scored off another Spence assist at the midway point to give WU a 7-6 lead
- Evan Voss answered with a goal for the Bears
- Clark scored the final two goals of the half, both coming off Spence assists to make it 9-7

THIRD PERIOD

- Spence scored two minutes into the half off a Williams assist to give Wingate a 10-7 cushion
- Powell's goal at the 9:36 mark cut the lead to one
- Grant answered with a goal to make it 11-9
- Clark scored off another Spence assist with 3:33 remaining to extend the lead to three
- Goals from Voss and Madish pulled LR back within a goal with two minutes left
- Moran's goal with nine seconds to go gave the 'Dogs a 13-11 advantage

FOURTH PERIOD

- Owen Scott's goal in the opening minute pulled the Bears back within a goal
- Clark's goal off a Moran assist made it 14-12
- Spence scored with 7:34 remaining to stretch the lead to three
- Butrico's goal at the 5:47 mark put the 'Dogs on top 16-12
- LR fought back, scoring four times in just over three minutes to tie it
- Serrano scored the equalizer for the Bears with 1:52 remaining
- Wingate had the answer, with Butrico scoring off a Spence assist with a minute left
- Rupprecht won the ensuing face-off, which was picked up by Nick Arnold
- The Bulldogs were able to run off the final minute to secure the victory

UP NEXT

- Wingate is back in action Sunday, traveling to Tampa to face the #1 Spartans
- That national quarterfinal contest will take place at 1 p.m.
- The winner will advance to the national semifinals on May 18 to take on the Maryville vs. Limestone winner
- The national championship game is May 25 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.