WINGATE, N.C. -- A late rally came up just a bit short for the Lincoln Memorial University men's lacrosse team (1-5, 0-3 SAC) in a 10-9 loss to the Wingate Bulldogs (3-4, 3-0 SAC) in South Atlantic Conference action on Sunday in Wingate, N.C.
 
The Railsplitters absorbed a quick start by the Bulldogs, who jumped out to a 2-0 lead less than five minutes into the match on goals by Tanner Kotch and Chase Watts. Dylan Neisler (Detroit, Mich.) cut the deficit in half with a goal at the 10:21 mark, which was assisted on by Adam Golia (Victoria, British Columbia), but Wingate pushed the lead back out to 4-1 with scores from Jeremy Sullivan and Ryan Vogrig.
 
Lincoln Memorial got back some momentum before the first period ended as Golia connected with Neisler again at the 2:31 mark, and Ronny Paulino (Copiague, N.Y.) tallied an unassisted score with just 14 seconds left in the frame.
 
Neisler and Paulino caged a goal apiece in the second stanza, but Wingate scored four more times in the period to send the Bulldogs into the half with an 8-5 cushion.
 
A Zak Goings goal extended Wingate's lead to 9-5 with 13:22 left in the third period, but the Railsplitters would completely own the remainder of the frame. The Golia-Neisler connection proved successful for the third time at the 10:59 mark, while Justin Stewart (Copiague, N.Y.) registered an unassisted goal five minutes later. The Bulldogs halted the momentum briefly with a Cory Shumacher goal at 4:40, but Jusstin Ruffin (Copiague, N.Y.) and Neisler brought the Railsplitters to within one with goals just 58 seconds apart to end the third stanza.
 
That was as close as the Railsplitters would get, though, as they were unable to mount any offense in the fourth stanza. Ruffin landed a shot on cage at the 12:28 mark that was turned away by Bulldog keeper Jacob Ormerod. Golia and Billy Kopsky (Smithtown, N.Y.) put two shots in on Ormerod during a 25-second flurry midway through the fourth, but he stood up to that challenge and kept the Railsplitters in a one-goal hole.
 
The Railsplitters would not put another shot on target over the final six minutes of regulation.
 
Wingate mustered a 36-27 shot advantage and picked up a 48-35 ground ball edge, but the Railsplitters won those categories in the second half, outshooting the Bulldogs 16-10 and scooping up 20 of the 37 ground balls.
 
The Bulldogs dominated on face-offs, gaining possession on 18 of those 23 opportunities. The Railsplitters committed 19 turnovers over the course of the game, with seven of those coming in the fourth frame.
 
Neisler led all players with five goals and seven shots. Paulino accounted for two goals on three shot attempts, while Golia collected three assists.
 
Joe Medel (Virginia Beach, Va.) rebounded from a shaky start in Saturday's loss at Coker with a nice showing in net for the Railsplitters, recording 14 saves in 60 minutes of action. He also led the Railsplitters by collecting seven ground balls.
 
Next on tap, the Railsplitters travel to Salisbury, N.C. for a South Atlantic Conference battle with the Catawba Indians on Saturday, March 14. That match is scheduled to get underway at 3 p.m.