Wingate Takes Second Straight SAC Tourney Crown with 12-9 Victory Over No. 3 Lenoir-Rhyne

Story Courtesy of Wingate Athletic Media Relations

CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET

Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University junior attack Alex Llerandi scored five goals, leading the Bulldogs to a 12-9 South Atlantic Conference men's lacrosse tournament championship game victory over number three Lenoir-Rhyne Sunday. Llerandi was voted the tournament MVP for the back-to-back SAC tournament champion Bulldogs.

Wingate redshirt freshman goalie Ryan Ahrens had a career-high 18 saves in 60 minutes played. Bulldog senior attack Seth Grimwood added two goals and one assist. For Lenoir-Rhyne, senior midfielder Ben Corrigan had three goals and two assists. Bear sophomore midfielder Eric Dickinson had two goals and two assists. 

First Quarter

Wingate led 3-1 after the opening 15 minutes. Bulldog freshman attack Bobby Padden got things started at the 10:07 mark. Cooper and Llerandi added first quarter goals for the Bulldogs. LRU junior attack Ryan Bell scored the only Bears' goal in the first quarter, a man-up tally with three minutes left.

Second Quarter

Bell scored the first goal of the second quarter on an assist from Dickinson. Llerandi responded to make the score 4-2 before the Bears scored back-to-back goals by Dickinson and junior attack Joe Buduo  to tie the score 4-4 with 6:32 left. Buduo assisted on the Dickinson goal, while Dickinson returned the favor on the Buduo score. Grimwood finished the second stanza scoring at the 2:48 mark to give the Bulldogs a 5-4 halftime lead.

Third Quarter

Llerandi scored three goals in the third frame as Wingate outscored Lenoir-Rhyne 5-3. Grimwood (1:13) and Llerandi (0:12) completed the third quarter scoring to put the Bulldogs up 10-7. Corrigan posted two third-quarter goals for the Bears.

Fourth Quarter

Cooper opened the fourth quarter scoring with an unassisted goal at the 9:20 mark, giving the Bulldogs their biggest lead at 11-7. Corrigan (8:51) and Dickinson (3:46) found the back of the nets to pull the Bears within two at 11-9. Corrigan assisted on the Dickinson goal. Wingate senior attack Jeremy Sullivan completed the day's scoring with 42 seconds to play. 

NOTABLES

Wingate head coach Tim Boyle has guided the Bulldogs to two SAC tournament championships in his two seasons. 

NEXT ON THE AGENDA

Both teams will await word on potential NCAA tournament bids.

2018 SAC MEN'S LACROSSE ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Queens: Anthony Valenza

Lincoln Memorial: Michael Kessler

Lenoir-Rhyne: Eric Dickinson, Collin Lett, Shane Gottberg

Wingate: Mark James, Ryan Ahrens, Reese Orman, Sean Moran, Alex Llerandi (MVP)