Hickory, N.C. - The Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Soccer Team (14-1, 8-0) became the lone undefeated and untied team in the South Atlantic Conference after holding off Wingate (11-3, 6-1), 4-3, Saturday evening at the Moretz Sports - Athletic Complex and grabbing at least a share of the league crown.
The Bears, ranked No. 6 in NCAA Division II, have now won a school-record 13 consecutive matches and snapped the Bulldogs' 10-match winning streak in the process.
Senior All-American midfielder Catherine Hauck (Lake Mary, Fla.) scored twice as the Bears clinched at least a share of their second straight league regular season championship.
Wingate's Jade Montgomery (Monroe, N.C.) scored the match's first goal just 3:32 into the contest as she headed in a long throw-in from Carson Williams (Kernersville, N.C.).
Lenoir-Rhyne then proceeded to score the match's next four goals.
L-R junior midfielder Carley Griffin (Fresno, Calif.) tied the score in the 21st minute when she drove to the center of the field and fired a shot from about 25 yards out.
The goal was the first given up by Wingate against a conference opponent all year.
Hauck then gave L-R the lead for good when she connected from the left side with a 30-yard shot to the back of the net at the 34:30 mark of the first half.
The Bears made it 3-1 in the 49th minute when senior defender Jessica Schob (Ione, Calif.) scored right in front of the goal after collecting a saved shot by senior forward Laura Linehan (San Diego, Calif.).
After Hauck pushed L-R's advantage to 4-1 just two minutes later with a header into the net, Wingate responded with two quick goals but the Bears held on for the win.
Wingate's Kelly Moldenhauer (Charlotte, N.C.) scored on a penalty kick in the 53rd minute before Montgomery's second goal of the night on another header at the 55:31 mark of the match.
Lenoir-Rhyne junior goalkeeper Caitlin Scruggs (Torrance, Calif.) notched the win after stopping five shots while Wingate's Ashlyn Hardie (Summerfield, N.C.) suffered the loss in goal.
Both Hauck and Griffin are now?tied for the team lead in goals this year with 10.
L-R hosts Tusculum on Senior Day in the league match next Saturday at 5 p.m., while Wingate returns home to host Lincoln Memorial Monday beginning at 2 p.m.
