Wingate, N.C. – The Wingate University Men's Lacrosse Team (11-5) prevailed over third-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne (16-2), 12-9, in the finals of the 2018 South Atlantic Conference Championship Sunday afternoon at Graham Gill Field. The Bulldogs also ended the Bears' 12-game winning streak.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Wingate 12, No. 3 Lenoir-Rhyne 9
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (16-2), Wingate (11-5)
Location: Graham Gill Field | Wingate, N.C.
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STATS OF THE GAME:
• Wingate was able to hold on despite Lenoir-Rhyne's advantages in both shots taken (40-23) and ground balls (41-22). Alex Llerandi (Marietta, Ga.) led the way with a game-high five goals for the Bulldogs, who avenged an earlier loss to the Bears in the regular season.
• Lenoir-Rhyne was led by senior midfielder
Ben Corrigan (Alpharetta, Ga.) - who totaled three goals and two assists – and junior attacker
Ryan Bell (Havre de Grace, Md.) with three scores despite the loss.
• Ryan Ahrens (Austin, Texas) was key for the Bulldogs as well, stopping 18 shots and picking up the win in goal. Lenoir-Rhyne senior goalkeeper
Ryan Crompton (Frederick, Md.) made four saves but suffered the loss.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
• Lenoir-Rhyne lost for the first time away from home this year and fell to the Bulldogs for the first time since 2012. LR had beaten Wingate six straight times.
• Lenoir-Rhyne junior attacker
Joe Buduo (Shrewsbury, Mass.) finished with a goal and an assist to extend a pair of school single-season records: a league-leading 59 goals and 86 points.
• The Bears lost for only the fifth time in their last 44 games.
• Senior long stick middle
Collin Lett (Greensboro, N.C.), sophomore midfielder
Eric Dickinson (Charlotte, N.C.) and senior midfielder
Shane Gottberg (Mooresville, N.C.) all earned league all-tournament honors for the Bears. Dickinson scored seven goals in two league tournament games this year while Gottberg won 21-of-23 face-offs today with 18 ground balls.
UP NEXT:
Lenoir-Rhyne is likely to earn a berth in the NCAA Division II Playoffs for the second consecutive year as the Bears are the top team in the South Regional rankings. The selection show is scheduled for Sunday, May 6, at 7:30 p.m.
