Lenoir-Rhyne, Wingate Secure Spots in Food Lion SAC Women’s Soccer Championship Match

ROCK HILL, S.C. - The South Atlantic Conference's top two women's soccer teams from the regular season will face off for the 2011 Food Lion SAC Soccer Championship on Sunday, as Lenoir-Rhyne and Wingate each won semifinal matches on Friday at Manchester Meadows.

The Bears jumped on No. 4 Anderson early and never looked back in one semifinal, while the Bulldogs scored four second-period goals en route to a victory over third-seeded Newberry in the other.

[2011 Food Lion SAC Soccer Championship Central]

L-R, which won the SAC regular-season title after going a perfect 9-0 in the conference, will be looking for its second-straight Food Lion SAC Championship title, while Wingate will be vying for its first-ever championship.

The winner of Sunday's match, which is slated to begin at 4 p.m. at Manchester Meadows, will receive an automatic bid into the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship.

Lenoir-Rhyne took all but 55 seconds to punch in its first goal against Anderson, as first team All-SAC forward Laura Linehan launched a shot past AU goalkeeper Kaitlyn Neipp, giving the Bears an early lead.

Linehan then struck again in the 24th minute for her 12th goal of the season, putting L-R up by a score of 2-0 that stood for the remainder of the contest.

[Laura Linehan post-match interview]

Lenoir-Rhyne controlled possession throughout the match, out-shooting Anderson by a margin of 22-2. Midfielder Mariel Mena and defender Jessica Lentz handed out the assists that led to the Bears' goals.

Despite giving up a pair of goals, Neipp was strong in the net for Anderson, recording four saves while fending off constant pressure from the L-R offense.

Friday's other semifinal remained very competitive through the first half, as Wingate and Newberry went into the break knotted at one goal apiece. Wingate's goal came from first team All-Conference midfielder Kelly Adams, while Newberry's was off the foot of All-SAC second team forward Mary Stanton.

Wingate's offense dominated the second half, however, as the Bulldogs tallied goals in the 58th, 74th, 79th and 89th minutes, while Newberry found the net just once in the period for a final score of 5-2.

The Bulldogs' second-half surge included two goals from freshman midfielder Jade Mongtomgery, a member of the All-SAC first team. After her goal in the first half, Adams handed out two assists in the second period.

Wingate ended up outshooting Newberry, 20-9.

[Wingate's Kelly Scott post-match interview]

Lenoir-Rhyne and Wingate's only meeting in the regular season was a 4-3 thriller won by the Bears in Hickory.