WINGATE, N.C. --- A six-goal run to end the first half propelled fifth-ranked Wingate University to a 28-11 victory over Tusculum University in South Atlantic Conference men's lacrosse Saturday afternoon at Irwin Belk Stadium.
The Bulldogs (6-1, 2-1 SAC) outshot the Pioneers (3-5, 0-3 SAC) by an 80-27 margin and received goals from 13 different players in the victory. Vinny Butrico and Joey Moran each had five goals and an assist for Wingate, while Kyle Spence had four goals and four assists and Jaxon Grant added three goals and three assists.
Clay Mendez and Luke Bowen each had two goals and an assist for the Pioneers, with a goal and three assists from Ben Hobday and a goal and two assists from Ben Royer. Preston Stewart had two goals, with one goal apiece from Tysen Fontenla, Jayden Thomas and Blake Harrison.
Wingate had a 55-27 advantage in ground balls and won 28 faceoffs to 15 for the Pioneers. The Bulldogs were a perfect 20-for-20 on clears and scored on their only man-up chance, while the Pioneers were 15-for-26 on clears and 2-for-3 with the extra man.
Wingate led 5-2 midway through the first quarter, but Tusculum came back on goals from Fontenla, Mendez and Bowen to tie the score 5-5 with 3:42 left in the period. The Bulldogs' Butrico scored twice in the final 20 seconds as Wingate led 7-5 after a quarter.
Tusculum trailed 10-8 after a goal from Stewart with 7:41 left in the opening half, but Wingate broke the game open as it scored six goals in just under six minutes to go up 16-8 at intermission.
The Bulldogs outscored the Pioneers 8-1 in the third quarter to build a 24-9 lead, but the Pioneers were able to get goals from Bowen and Royer in the final five minutes of the match.
Logan Spaeth was 18-for-25 on faceoffs and had eight ground balls for the Bulldogs, with three ground balls and three caused turnovers by Clark. Harrison led the Pioneers with five ground balls, with Ezequel Ceant winning 11 faceoffs.
Both teams used three goalkeepers in the match, with Brenden Pecora making seven saves in the first half for the Pioneers, followed by seven saves by Alex Germain in the third quarter and four from Garrett Smith in the fourth. Quad Williams had three saves for the Bulldogs, followed by five from Matt Janotte and one from Ashton Loe.
The Pioneers will continue their gauntlet of ranked teams on Wednesday, March 19 with a visit to third-ranked Limestone. The Saints knocked off sixth-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne 16-6 on the road on Saturday to improve to 8-1 overall and 3-0 in the SAC.
