Wingate, N.C. -- Limestone College junior midfielder Justin Haworth (Deer Park, N.Y.) tallied five goals and one assist, helping the number eight Saints to an 11-10 come-from-behind NCAA Division II men's lacrosse victory over Wingate University Saturday afternoon at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field.

With the victory, Limestone improves to 8-1 overall on the season. Wingate falls to 5-4 overall and watches a two-game winning streak end Saturday. The Bulldogs host Deep South Conference foe Mars Hill College Tuesday at 4 p.m. The Saints return to Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference play Saturday, April 7, entertaining St. Andrews Presbyterian College at 2 p.m.

Wingate led 7-2 at halftime. Bulldog junior attack Kyle Costello (Wilmington, N.C.) had two goals and one assist in the first half. Five Wingate teammates had one goal each in the opening 30 minutes. In addition, the Bulldogs converted two-of-three extra-man opportunities in the first half.

The Bulldogs pushed the lead to 8-3 on a goal by Bulldog junior attack Mike Bayliss (Lorton, Va.) with 8:04 to play in the third quarter. Bayliss was assisted on the play by junior face-off specialist Bob Chinn (Mooresville, N.C.). Haworth and the Saints answered with a big third quarter. After going scoreless in the first half, Haworth had three goals in the third frame as Limestone cut Wingate's lead to 8-7.

The visitors tied the game at 8-8 with 14:01 remaining in the fourth quarter, thanks to a goal by senior attack Ryan Collins (Black River, N.Y.) from an assist by junior attack Allen Vaughn (Skaneateles, N.Y.). Haworth scored back-to-back goals (his fourth and fifth scores) to give the Saints a 10-8 lead with 9:57 remaining in the fourth quarter. Haworth's final two goals were both power-play scores.

The two Haworth goals ended a 7-0 run for the Saints, spanning the third and fourth quarters. The 7-0 flurry turned an 8-3 deficit into a 10-8 advantage for the two-time national champions.

The Bulldogs battled back, scoring two goals to tie the match at 10-10. Wingate sophomore attack Ryan Otterblad (Dumfries, Va.) took a pass from Costello to cut the Limestone lead to 10-9 with 9:24 to go in the contest. A Bayliss goal tied the contest at 10-10 with 8:30 left to play. The extra-man goal (Wingate's third of the contest) was assisted by sophomore midfielder Tommy Heberer (Woodbridge, Va.).

Vaughn scored the game-winner at the 7:35 mark on an assist by junior attack Brock Spilker (Pasadena, Md.). Both teams had scoring chances in the waning minutes, but neither club could convert. With Limestone holding the ball at the end of the game, Wingate got the ball back on a double-penalty with 38 seconds to play. The Bulldogs attempted a shot at the buzzer, but it was wide.

Both Haworth and Vaughn finished the contest with six points. Vaughn's ledger included three goals and a team-high three assists. Collins contributed two goals and one assist. For Wingate, Bayliss topped the charts with three goals. Costello had two goals and two assists, while Otterblad chipped in two goals and one assist. Senior midfielder Bryan Safarik (Vancouver, B.C.) added one goal and two assists for the hosts.

Limestone senior goalkeeper Marty Ward (Syracuse, N.Y.) played 58 minutes. He faced 30 shots and allowed 10 goals. Ward recorded six saves. Wingate junior netminder David Suthers (Manassas, Va.) went the distance, playing 60 minutes. The reigning Deep South Conference Defensive Player of the Week, Suthers posted 16 saves. He faced 41 shots and allowed 11 goals.

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2007-04-01