Box Score by Kevin Buczek
BANNER ELK, N.C.-Sophomore Danilo Matos (Lauro de Freitas, Brazil) provided No. 5 Southeast Region ranked Barton College with an early lead but a pair of Bobcat goals in the final 20 minutes rallied host Lees-McRae College to 2-1 Conference Carolinas men's soccer victory on Saturday afternoon.
Freshman reserve Scott Alford (Hillsborough, N.C.) scored both Bobcats goals in the 75th and 78th minutes as the defending Conference Carolinas champions squeaked out the comeback win. Lees-McRae improved to 5-3-1 overall and 3-1-0 in the league. Barton exited at 7-2-0 and 4-2-0 after having its five-game win streak snapped.
Matos started the scoring at the 29:36 mark by beating a defender and looping a fantastic finish over the keeper and into the far side netting. Matos increased his rookie totals to four goals and 14 points.
Barton maintained the 1-nil lead through the halftime intermission.
Senior goalkeeper Brian Riesenberg (Fort Thomas, Ky.) made several highlight reel saves through the first 70 minutes to keep the shutout bid in tack until Alford scored the equalizer with 15 minutes and 15 seconds left in regulation. The Bobcats need a timely cross that was quickly flicked to Alford for the low shot to finally penetrate Riesenberg.
Just two minutes later the game was delayed as Riesenberg was involved in a fierce collision on the back post, which propelled him into the woodwork and forced him out of the contest. Sophomore reserve Dalton Bauer replaced Riesenberg and played the final 13:47 between the pipes.
Alford was able to score the game-winner a little of a minute later after receiving a through ball and delivering a well-placed shot into the bottom corner.
Riesenberg finished with six saves and Bauer made two stops.
Barton had a 5-3 shot edge in the first 45 minutes but Lees-McRae finished with a 20-7 attempt advantage after outshooting the Bulldogs 17-2 in the second stanza.
Sophomore Erik Pajunk (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) had a team-high four shots for the Royal Blue and White but was held without a point for the first time this season.
Barton next hits the pitch on Thursday at Conference Carolinas rival Belmont Abbey College with kickoff slated for 4 p.m.
