Harrogate, Tenn.----Wingate University senior midfielder Stephen Kehoe (Newry, Ireland) scored in the 103rd minute, giving the Bulldogs a thrilling 2-1 double overtime victory at Lincoln Memorial University in South Atlantic Conference men’s soccer action Saturday afternoon. With the win, Wingate moves to 14-2 overall and 8-1 in the SAC. The ‘Dogs clinch a share of the SAC title; they will be the number one seed in the Food Lion SAC Tournament next week. LMU falls to 10-5-1 overall and 6-3 in the SAC.
“It’s the proudest moment in my 19 years at Wingate,” head coach Gary Hamill says. “This senior class and team have given so much to this program...and to me personally, that it’s so fitting for them to win like this. They have been so close for three years; tonight makes all the years well worth it.”
After a scoreless first half, the host Railsplitters struck first. In the 67th minute, sophomore midfielder Fernando Silveira (Brasilia, Brazil) netted his fourth goal of the season to make the score 1-0 LMU.
Wingate responded with the equalizer eight minutes later, when junior midfielder Fabricio Barancoski (Sao Paulo, Brazil) took a cross from senior midfielder Jack Vundum (Birmingham, England) and netted his seventh goal of the season.
After a scoreless first overtime, the Bulldogs earned a corner kick two minutes into the second overtime. Senior midfielder Luke Mulholland (Preston, England) took the corner, setting up Kehoe for his first goal of the season. The tally gives the Bulldogs a share of the SAC regular season title. The helper is Mulholland’s ninth assist of the season, leading the team and ranking second in the SAC. Mulholland has 99 points in his illustrious career. The two-time All-American ranks 14th in SAC history with his 99 points.
The Bulldogs outshot Lincoln Memorial 23-11, including a 6-1 advantage in the two overtimes. Wingate had an 8-6 edge in shots on goal. Senior goalkeeper Joey Calandra (Mount Pleasant, S.C.) collected four saves for the Bulldogs.
Wingate is the number one seed in the Food Lion SAC Tournament; they will host the number eight seed Wednesday night at the WU Soccer Complex (7 p.m. kick-off). The winner advances to the Food Lion SAC tournament semifinals in Rock Hill, S.C. Friday.
(Wingate University assistant sports information director Hugh Patton wrote this article. Patton is a 2006 Wingate graduate with a B.A. degree in Communication Studies.)
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