HobbsDailyReport.com
WINGATE – Beating Lenoir-Rhyne University for the first time in seven matches on Sunday, the Wingate men won the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) championship in lacrosse.
The Bulldogs (11-5), seeded No. 2, snapped a 12-match win streak by the top-seeded Bears (16-2), winning 12-9 to earn a bid into the NCAA Division II playoffs.
LRU — ranked third in NCAA Division II and first in its Southeast Regional poll — is expected to also reach the postseason. Those pairings won’t be released until Sunday.
Wingate held off the Bears despite LRU holding advantages in shots taken (40-23) and ground balls (41-22).
Alex Llerandi scored five goals to lead the Bulldogs.
Senior midfielder Ben Corrigan had three goals and two assists to pace the Bears, and junior attacker Ryan Bell added three goals.
Ryan Ahrens was key for the Bulldogs as well, stopping 18 shots and picking up a win in goal.
LRU senior goalkeeper Ryan Crompton made four saves but took a loss.
The Bears lost on the road for the first time this season, and Wingate had lost six straight to LRU dating back to 2012.
LRU junior attacker Joe Buduo finished with a goal and an assist to extend school single-season records of a league-leading 59 goals and 86 points.
The Bears lost for only the fifth time in their last 44 matches.
Senior long stick middle Collin Lett, sophomore midfielder Eric Dickinson and senior midfielder Shane Gottberg each earned league all-tournament honors for the Bears.
Dickinson scored seven goals in two league tournament matches while Gottberg won 21-of-23 face-offs on Sunday with 18 ground balls.
- Reported by LRU Sports Information