Salisbury, N.C.----Wingate University junior midfielder Stephen Torkington (Coronado, Calif.) scored the game-winning goal with 5:53 remaining in the fourth quarter, helping the Bulldogs to an 8-6 victory over Catawba College in the championship game of the 2007 Deep South Conference tournament at Shuford Stadium. Catawba College was the host for the 2007 DSC event.

Wingate (11-4 overall) wins its first-ever Deep South Conference tournament title with the come-from-behind triumph. Catawba falls to 6-7 overall. Both teams have appeared in three DSC tournament finals. The Tribe is now 0-3 in DSC title games.

Torkington's game-winner was the only extra-man goal of the contest. He was assisted on the play by sophomore midfielder Tommy Heberer (Woodbridge, Va.). Bulldog senior midfielder and All-DSC selection Bryan Safarik (Vancouver, B.C., Canada) tied the game at 6-6 two minutes earlier on an assist from junior attack man Mike Bayliss (Lorton, Va.).

The contest featured five ties and three lead changes. The Catawba Indians took their final lead of the game (6-5) when sophomore midfielder Wayne Carbiener (Orlando, Fla.) tallied an unassisted goal at the 13:45 mark of the fourth quarter. Wingate answered with three consecutive goals, including an insurance goal by sophomore attack man Ryan Otterblad (Dumfries, Va.) with 3:38 to play.

Neither team scored in a four-shot first quarter (two shots by each team). Catawba led 2-1 at halftime, thanks to second quarter scores by junior attack man and All-DSC honoree Kurt Green (San Diego, Calif.) and freshman midfielder Sean Duggan (Wantagh, N.Y.). Green and Duggan sandwiched their goals around a Torkington goal for the Bulldogs.

The two teams combined for seven third-quarter goals. Bayliss gave Wingate its first lead on an assist from junior attack Kyle Costello (Wilmington, N.C.), putting the Bulldogs up 3-2 with 13:48 left in the third period. Otterblad pushed the lead to 4-2 on an assist from Torkington at the 8:59 mark.

Three Catawba players responded with goals to help the Tribe put together a 3-1 run to finish the third quarter, tying the game at 5-5 and setting the stage for an exciting fourth quarter. Wingate outshot Catawba 7-4 in the pivotal final quarter to give the Bulldogs a 24-20 shot advantage for the game.

Torkington and Otterblad led Wingate with two goals each. Torkington was Wingate's top point producer, as he added one assist. Carbiener led the Tribe with two goals. Green had one goal and one assist.

Both goalkeepers were 60-minute men. Bulldog junior netminder David Suthers (Manassas, Va.) recorded seven saves, while Catawba junior goalie Ben Huber (Westminster, Md.) notched six saves. The Tribe visits St. Andrews Presbyterian Tuesday for a 4:00 p.m. non-conference contest.

2007-04-22