Wingate Rallies for 14-11 Lacrosse Win Over Notre Dame de Namur
February 29, 2004

Courtesy Wingate University Sports Information Office

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University men’s lacrosse team scored six unanswered goals spanning the second and third quarters as the Bulldogs rallied for a 14-11 win over Notre Dame de Namur (Calif.) University Sunday afternoon at the Wingate University lacrosse practice facility.

The victory is the first collegiate head coaching win for first-year Wingate mentor Sonny Ziegler. The Bulldogs are 1-1 overall. Notre Dame de Namur falls to 1-2 overall on the season. Wingate hosts Mercyhurst (Pa.) University Wednesday at 2 p.m. NDNU visits St. Andrews Presbyterian College for a 3 p.m. game Monday.

Wingate junior attack Matt DiMartino (Bay Shore, N.Y.) scored three consecutive second quarter goals to turn a 4-2 deficit into a 5-4 Bulldog lead. DiMartino’s goals were the only scores as Wingate shutout the Argos in the second frame to take a 5-4 lead into the locker-room at halftime.

Bulldog senior attack Steve Maxwell (Media, Pa.) picked up where DiMartino left off, scoring the first two goals of the third quarter. DiMartino added another score at the 7:23 mark of the third quarter, ending the 6-0 run and giving the Bulldogs an 8-4 advantage.

Notre Dame de Namur answered with three straight goals to pull within one at 8-7 on a score by freshman midfielder J.C. Vera at the 4:47 plateau of the third quarter. Wingate responded with another run, this one a 5-0 spurt to take a 13-7 lead on a Maxwell score with 14:26 to play in the fourth quarter. A pre-season All-American, Maxwell scored two goals and dished out two assists during the 5-0 run.

Maxwell led Wingate with five goals and two assists. DiMartino added four goals. For Notre Dame de Namur, sophomore attack Marc Mackrides led the way with four goals and four assists. Wingate outshot NDNU 36-32. Bulldog senior goalkeeper Jonathan Cofer (Kingwood, Texas) went the distance, recording 12 saves.