News

Wingate University Men's team cracks top-10 nationally

Date Posted: 10/7/2015

Kansas City, Mo.----The Wingate University Bulldogs moved up eight spots in this week's NSCAA Division II men's soccer top 25 poll, checking in at number eight. Wingate has been ranked in every poll this season, ranking 16th in each of the last two polls. The Bulldogs are 8-0-2 overall and 5-0 in the SAC. The 'Dogs are also ranked second in the NSCAA Southeast Region poll.

The Bulldogs are one of 10 teams without a loss this year. Wingate is the only SAC team ranked in the top 25, while the NCAA Southeast Region is represented by second-ranked Pfeiffer along with No. 19 Young Harris, No. 21 Limestone and 25th-ranked Lander. Limestone was ranked ninth last week, but fell after the Bulldogs won3-1 at Limestone on Wednesday.

The Bulldogs have outscored their opponents 24-6 on the year. After starting the year 2-0-2, Wingate has picked up wins in each of its last six games, starting with a 2-1 victory at Mars Hill. All-Region defender Alex Nelson(Newcastle, England) scored the first goal of the game, while All-American Charlie Machell (Newcastle, England) added a goal in the second half.

Wingate erased a 1-0 halftime deficit against Anderson, getting second half goals from Callum Ross (Newcastle, England) and Jon Ander (Bilbao, Spain) in a 2-1 victory. Ander registered a hat trick in Wingate's convincing 5-0 win against Queens, while Ross added a goal and an assist. All-Region midfielders Shaun Gadsby (Newcastle, England) and Aksel Juul (Newcastle, England) had two assists each in the victory.

The Bulldogs kicked off a four-match road trip with a 1-0 win at Newberry, getting a goal from Gadsby 2:21 into the opening half. Juul scored in the fifth minute of Wingate's 3-1 win at ninth-ranked Limestone last week. After the Saints tied it, Ander netted the game-winner in the 79th minute, while Machell added a goal two minutes later for the final margin.

Wingate trailed 1-0 at LMU on Sunday in a battle of the only two unbeaten SAC teams. Gadsby scored 1:17 into the second half to tie, then found the back of the net again in the 78th minute to give the 'Dogs the victory.

Ander leads the SAC with six goals and 14 points, while Ross is second in the league with five goals and four assists, tying him with Ander for the league lead in points. Gadsby leads the conference with five assists, adding three goals to rank fifth with 11 points. Machell is tied for second with five goals, adding two assists to rank fourth in the SAC with 12 points. Juul is also second in the league with four assists. Freshman Pablo Jara (Santiago, Chile) leads the conference in goals-against average (0.59) and save percentage (.860.).

Wingate wraps up its four-match road trip Wednesday, traveling to Coker for a 7 p.m. start. The Bulldogs return home Saturday, hosting Brevard at 7:30 p.m.