News

Bulldogs ranked 25th in United Soccer Coaches poll

Date Posted: 10/10/2017

Kansas City, Mo.----Winners of seven consecutive matches, the Wingate University Bulldogs have cracked the United Soccer Coaches top 25 for the first time this season, checking in at number 25 in this week's ranking. The Bulldogs are 7-1 on the year, earning a ranking for the first time since 2015, when Wingate started the season 11-0. The 'Dogs are ranked fifth in the United Soccer Coaches Southeast Region rankings.

After Tampa rallied for a 2-1 victory over Wingate in the season opener, the Bulldogs have reeled off seven consecutive wins, which includes a perfect 6-0 mark in SAC play. A Taylor Leyble (Jacksonville, N.C.) game-winner in double overtime started the winning streak at Lander. Junior Kimmi Moore (Hubert, N.C.) scored a pair of goals in the SAC-opening win over Queens.

A Colleen Zickert (Arlington Heights, Ill.) goal in the 67th minute gave the 'Dogs a 1-0 victory over Anderson, while Wingate scored twice in the first five minutes of a 5-0 victory at Mars Hill, with Leyble contributing a goal and two assists. Gabby Fleischli (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) netted the overtime game-winner in the 1-0 victory at Newberry for Wingate's fifth consecutive win.

The Bulldogs moved to 6-1 on the year with a 3-1 victory over Lincoln Memorial, with Leyble contributing a goal and an assist. Wingate's seventh consecutive victory came last Wednesday, prevailing 3-1 at Coker. Zickert scored the first two goals, while Leyble added a goal and an assist for the Bulldogs.

Wingate has outscored its opponents 18-4 on the year, while out-shooting the opposition 141-60. The Bulldogs lead the SAC and rank 14th nationally in goals-against average, while ranking 20th in the nation in shutout percentage.

Leyble is seventh in the conference with five goals and fifth with four assists, putting her fourth in the league with 14 points. Zickert is ninth in the conference with four goals and 13th with nine points, while Moore and Fleischli each have two goals and two assists on the season. Freshman Carly Veit (Pinehurst, N.C.) has a goal and three assists on the year, while sophomore Taylor Krakower (Wayne, N.J.) has contributed a pair of goals. Senior goalkeeper Alexis Jones (Midway Park, N.C.) leads the conference in save percentage and goals-against average.

The Bulldogs are back in action Saturday in a huge SAC road contest. Wingate travels to Carson-Newman to take on the seventh-ranked Eagles at 5 p.m. Carson-Newman is the only other SAC team without a loss in league play, entering the week at 6-0-1 in the conference. Wingate returns home Wednesday, Oct. 18, hosting Catawba at 5 p.m