Box Score by Kevin Buczek
BANNER ELK, N.C.-Sophomore Taylor Parrish (Smithfield, N.C.) and freshman Breanna Briggs (Hubert, N.C.) both scored for visiting Barton College against a stingy Lees-McRae College defense but the hosts Bobcats prevailed 6-2 Saturday during the Bobcats Homecoming weekend.
The No. 9 Southeast Region ranked Lees-McRae College women's soccer team had its shutout streak ended at 588 minutes (six consecutive shutouts prior to Saturday) when Parrish scored in the 29th minute but they were able to remain undefeated in the conference. The Bobcats, who are tied for first in the league standings with Mount Olive College, are undefeated in seven straight games improving to 6-2-1 overall and 5-0-0 in the conference.
"The score did not reflect how well the girls played," said Barton head coach Ike Onyeador. "We got beat by a better team but it wasn't a 6-2 match."
Parrish increased her team-high goal total to four while Briggs follows closely behind with three tallies after netting the Lady Bulldogs second goal in the 61st minute. Freshman Amber Brush (Princeton, N.C.) assisted on Parrish's goal for her first collegiate point.
Freshman goalkeeper Carson Moore (Greenville, N.C.) stopped 10 Bobcat shots on goal but Barton slipped to 2-6-0 and 2-5-0 after losing for the fourth straight outing.
The Bobcats scored the first three goals in a five minute outburst starting in the 18th minute before Parrish took a pass from Brush, beat the keeper and slotted home the finish to end the LMC scoreless streak.
A fourth different Lees-McRae goal scorer provided the Bobcats with a 4-1 advantage at halftime before Briggs cut the deficit to two with an accurate shot at the 60:39 mark, her second unassisted goal in as many games.
Senior Brooke Santerre (Port Republic, Md.) ended the Bulldogs comeback hopes with a pair of Bobcats goals in the final 10 minutes. Vickie Rich (Arlington Heights, Ill.) had a three-point performance with one goal and lone Lees-McRae helper.
LMC finished with a dominating 37-3 shot advantage. The Bobcats took all nine of the games corner kicks.
Barton next takes the pitch at Conference Carolinas foe Belmont Abbey College on Thursday at 2 p.m.
