Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University men's lacrosse team outscored Mars Hill College 9-1 in the third quarter en route to a 16-6 Deep South Conference victory Tuesday afternoon at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field.

With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 6-4 overall and 2-1 in the DSC. The Lions are 6-5 overall and 2-2 in the DSC. Wingate visits Wheeling Jesuit (W.Va.) University Tuesday (April 10), while Mars Hill hosts the same WJU team Friday.

Wingate senior midfielder Bryan Safarik (Vancouver, B.C.) tallied an unassisted goal at the 7:42 mark of the first quarter, giving the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish. Wingate led 7-3 at halftime, thanks to three first-half goals by junior midfielder David Olliver (Charlotte, N.C.). Safarik added two scores in the first 30 minutes.

Safarik and Mars Hill sophomore midfielder Jeffery Cizdziel (Stafford, Va.) traded goals to open the third quarter, keeping Wingate's lead at four goals (8-4). The Bulldogs exploded for eight unanswered goals to finish the third frame. Junior attack men Kyle Costello (Wilmington, N.C.) and Mike Bayliss (Lorton, Va.) scored two goals each in the 8-0 run.

Eight players scored goals for the Bulldogs. Safarik led Wingate's scoring brigade with four goals and one assist. Olliver finished with three goals and one assist. Costello, Bayliss and sophomore attack Greg Williams (Woodbridge, Va.) tallied two goals each. Costello dished out a team-high two assists.

Wingate outshot Mars Hill 34-23. The Bulldog defense held Lion sophomore attack David Hodgins (Windsor, Ontario) to one goal and one assist. This week's DSC offensive player of the week, Hodgins entered the contest with league-leading totals of 31 goals and 27 assists.

Wingate junior goalkeeper David Suthers (Manassas, Va.) played 43 minutes, allowing four goals on the afternoon. He faced 18 shots and recorded three saves. Mars Hill sophomore netminder Nick Sigona (Auburn, N.Y.) logged 50 minutes playing time. Sigona allowed 16 goals and faced 33 shots. He notched six saves.

2007-04-04