Two-time South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year Jade Montgomery (Monroe, NC) scored with 57 seconds left in regulation to give the second-seeded Wingate Bulldogs a 2-1 victory over Lincoln Memorial for their second SAC championship in three years.
But that was only a prelude into postseason play which would lead the Bulldogs to the third round and a meeting with defending champion West Florida University.
The ‘Dogs made it to the Sweet 16 advancing over Columbus State on penalty kicks after the two played a 1-1 draw. Wingate made all five of its kicks. Columbus State ended it season 15-6-1.
Wingate earned its first Southeast Region title with a 2-0 shutout of Belmont Abbey College. Brandi Baldwin (Indian Trail, NC) and Chandler Murphy (Pawleys Island, SC) provided the goals.
Playing in the national quarterfinals for the first time, the Bulldogs played the defending national champion Argonauts straight up, but saw their season end on the short end of a 3-2 scoreline.
Montgomery, a junior, scored the first goal off an assist from Murphy, who had at least a point in every NCAA tournament game.
Wingate finished the season 16-4-3 and was ranked #8 nationally in the final NSCAA Division II Women’s National Poll. It was the highest national ranking ever for the Bulldogs in program history.
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