Wingate, N.C.----The top-seeded and fifth-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs are in the SAC title game for the second straight year after taking down fifth-seeded and ninth-ranked Anderson University 18-13 in the semifinals of the South Atlantic Conference men's lacrosse tournament at Irwin Belk Stadium and Founders Field. The Bulldogs improve to 13-2 overall, advancing to this weekend's SAC championship game to take on Newberry. The Trojans fall to 13-4 on the season. The defending SAC tourney champs Bulldogs are now 11-0 against conference opponents this year, including five victories over teams ranked in the top 12 nationally.
KEY STATS
- Wingate out-shot Newberry 53-32
- The Bulldogs held a 29-21 advantage in shots on goal
- The 'Dogs won 22 of the 34 face-offs, with a 40-21 advantage in ground balls
- Wingate was 16-for-19 on clears; Anderson went 16-for-20
- The Bulldogs had 16 turnovers compared to 13 from the Trojans
- Anderson scored three man-up goals on five chance; WU was one-for-two
KEY BULLDOGS
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Vinny Butrico had six goals and an assist, adding four ground ball
- The SAC Offensive Player of the Year has piled up 17 goals in two games against AU this season
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Kyle Spence notched two goals and four assists
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Sean Clark had three goals and an assist
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Jaxon Grant added a goal and three assists
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Joey Moran and
Sam Goss each registered two goals and an assist
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Matt Benzing added a goal;
Jack Murray handed out an assist
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Necco Cottage won 17-of-25 face-offs, picking up 12 ground balls and scoring a goal
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Logan Spaeth won three-of-five face-offs;
Dylan Rupprecht won two-of-four face-offs
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Reno Vorderlandwehr registered a caused turnover and five ground balls
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Max Mitcho added a CT and three ground balls
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Quad Williams notched eight saves on the night
FIRST PERIOD
- Radyn Badraun scored twice in the first four minutes to give AU an early 2-0 lead
- Moran got the 'Dogs on the board at the 8:15 mark off Grant's assist
- Butrico scored off Clark's assist 45 seconds later to tie it at two
- Clark scored off a Spence assist 48 seconds later to give the 'Dogs the lead
- Cottage won the ensuing face-off and scored seven seconds later to make it 4-2
- Goals from Badraun and Matthew Rodgers tied it at four with 5:19 to go
- Moran scored off Grant's assist to put Wingate back on top
- Clark scored off Spence's assist with three minutes left to make it 6-4
- Cole Sparks scored a minute later to pull the Trojans back within one
- Butrico answered with a goal with 1:12 remaining off Grant's assist
- Ryan Bitterman's goal with 24 seconds cut WU's lead to one at 7-6
SECOND PERIOD
- After a high-scoring opening frame, the 'Dogs outscored Anderson 3-0 in the second
- Clark scored off a Spence assist two minutes in to make it 8-6
- Spence scored off Murray's assist with 10:15 to go
- Grant's goal with two seconds left gave the Bulldogs a 10-6 halftime advantage
THIRD PERIOD
- Butrico started the second half scoring 80 seconds into the third
- Goss scored 24 seconds later to put the 'Dogs on top 12-6
- Butrico scored off a Moran assist three minutes later, capping Wingate's 6-0 run
- Spence scored off Goss's assist at the 8:53 mark to make it 14-7
- AU scored the next three, with a Brayden Bushnoe goal with 4:11 left making it 14-10
FOURTH PERIOD
- Benzing scored four minutes into the final frame to push the lead back to five
- Goss scored off Butrico's assist 42 seconds later to make it 16-10
- Bitterman scored back-to-back goals to pull the Trojans back within four
- Butrico answered with a goal off a Spence assist with 6:20 remaining
- Butrico's goal at the 2:47 mark put the 'Dogs on top 18-12
UP NEXT
- Wingate will face Newberry in the SAC Tourney title game this weekend in Matthews
- The contest is slated to get underway Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Matthews SportsPlex
