Wingate, N.C.----Winners of three straight regular season SAC titles, the Wingate University Bulldogs open up the 2026 season at home this weekend, hosting third-ranked Florida Southern Sunday at 11 a.m. at Irwin Belk Stadium and Founders Field.

Wingate is coming off another impressive season, going 17-3 overall and 11-0 in the SAC, tying the 2023 program record for most wins in a season. The 'Dogs captured the regular season SAC title for the third straight year and advanced to the SAC championship game for the fourth straight season. Wingate earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, the second tourney appearance in program history. The Bulldogs were one of the most balanced teams in the country, leading the nation in caused turnovers while ranking fourth in assists per game, fifth in scoring margin, sixth in points per game, seventh in scoring defense, eighth in draw control percentage and ninth in scoring offense and shot percentage.

The Bulldogs have a good mixture of returners and newcomers, with 16 returners welcoming 15 new players onto this year's squad. "We've had to rely heavily on our senior class to provide leadership with 15 new faces on the team," head coach Abby Wiley says. "They've done a good job demonstrating what our team culture is like. Fall was a lot about learning the new players, how they want to be coached and how to help them be successful on the field."

Wingate is once again the preseason SAC favorite, earning nine of the 11 first-place votes in the league coach's poll. The Bulldogs are ranked 16th in the preseason IWLCA top 25. "We just take it game-by-game, make adjustments between games, and then get ready for the next one," Wiley says. "Opening up against a strong team, we're focused on Florida Southern, not as much end-of-year goals or winning championships."

The Bulldogs have a strong leadership group, including fifth-year players Claire Fuchs and Haley McCourt, along with seniors Krysta Churns, Bree Solero and Julia Garvin. "That group of five has done a great job of helping to mold the freshmen, teaching them ins and outs, adjusting them to the Wingate culture, Wiley says. "Leadership has been super important for the team this year. Also, juniors Jamie Weber and Amelia Benner are brining constant energy every day to practice, they have both been very vocal, and have done a great job throughout the preseason."

DEFENSE

The defense is anchored by a pair of preseason All-SAC selections in Churns and Kathryn McCabe. McCabe is the reigning SAC Defensive Player of the Year, earning IWLCA third team All-American accolades in 2025, while also being named a USA Lacrosse Magazine preseason All-American this year. The duo helped the 'Dogs lead the nation in caused turnovers for the second time in three years, while posting an 8.30 goals-against average, ranking eighth in the nation.

McCabe piled up 51 caused turnovers last year, while also collecting 128 draw controls, adding 66 ground balls. She led the SAC in CTs and draw controls, ranking fourth in the league in ground balls. McCabe was in the top 15 in the nation in CTs and draw controls. Churns registered 25 caused turnovers on the year, while also picking up 44 ground balls.

The Bulldogs have several other key factors on defense, including the fifth-year senior McCourt and junior Katie Field. McCourt had 24 CTs and 23 ground balls last year, with Field adding eight CTs and eight ground balls. They are joined by freshmen Haley Slaven and Ashlyn Goforth.

"The defensive unit will be our most consistent position on the field this year," Wiley says. "Kathryn and Krysta are two established leaders," Associate Head Coach Delaney Schappert says. "In addition to what they do on the field, they have also taken the freshmen under their wings. Haley and Katie have stepped up for us as well. Haley has been in our system for over four years now, she knows all the ins and outs of the defense. Haley Slaven and Ashlyn Goforth are two newcomers that have really bought into the defense and will contribute for us right away."

GOALIE

The Bulldogs will turn to newcomer Saskia Aunger at the goalie position. The freshman comes to Wingate from Port Moody, British Colombia. "Saskia is a new face in cage for us, but she has some great experience," Schappert says. "She has played on the British Colombia national team, so she has experience playing against some of the best players in the country."

MIDFIELD

The midfield is led by Solero, a preseason SAC Player to Watch. The senior had 24 goals and seven assists last season, adding 24 caused turnovers and 27 ground balls. Fuchs returns for her fifth season. She played in six games last year before suffering a season-ending injury, registering six goals, four assists, 10 draw controls and four CTs in her six games. Sophie Pavlick is another preseason Player to Watch after ranking second in the SAC with 95 draw controls last year, adding three goals.

"Bree has been a fabulous two-way midfielder in the fall and the spring for us," Wiley says. "She is a great leader, and has really helped our freshmen Madi Slayton and Livy Rondeau adjust to the college game and to our culture. We're really excited to have Claire back, she's worked hard to come back from her injury to be ready for the start of this season."

Pavlick and Fuchs will both be key at the draw control for the Bulldogs. Wingate led the SAC and ranked eighth nationally in draw control percentage in 2025 (.599 percent). "Sophie and Claire are both productive at the draw, and have different approaches, giving us good options," Assistant Coach Leah Knowles says. "They are both so versatile, so it's good to have them in different situations. McCabe, Deirdre Jones and Madi Slayton will be in the mix around the draw circle. They all have a big pretense, very scrappy and fight for everything. All of them work well with our draw takers."

ATTACK

The attack has a mix of returners and newcomers, led by Limestone transfer Deirdre Jones, who earned All-SAC honors for the Saints in 2025 and is a preseason SAC Player to Watch this year. Jones piled up 43 goals, 17 assists, 50 draw controls and 21 ground balls last year. The senior Garvin and junior Benner will be key factors for the Bulldog attack. Garvin had 13 goals and 15 assists last year, while Benner notched 11 goals and 15 assists.

"We have some new faces that will make our attack look different this year," Wiley says. "It is a versatile group that works really well together. It's a very moldable group, with our newcomers Deirdre and Stacy Glover mixing in with our veterans Julia and Amelia. We have some other players, including more newcomers, that will add depth throughout the season, but these are the four that will lead the charge."

SCHEDULE

Wingate's challenging schedule gets started with a top-20 showdown against Florida Southern on Sunday, when the #16 'Dogs take on the third-ranked Mocs. The Bulldogs have key regional match-ups at home against Lee, Lander and Seton Hill, while making a trip to Belmont Abbey. The Bulldogs will face back-to-back defending national champion Tampa in the Crown Classic in Charlotte in March, then have a key SAC showdown at Anderson four days later.

"We are really excited for the challenge to face Florida Southern in the opener," Wiley says. "We have some other big non-conference games that will get us ready for league play. We are eager for the opportunity to play in the Crown Classic against the back-to-back national champs."