Box Score by Kevin Buczek
WILSON, N.C.-Freshman Dante De Luca finished off a long run made by sophomore Eric Pajunk with just 1:53 left in the second overtime to lift host Barton to a wild 3-2 Conference Carolinas men's soccer victory over visiting King College during the College's Homecoming Saturday afternoon.
The No. 8 Southeast Region ranked Bulldogs improved to 10-5-0 overall and 6-4-0 in the conference marking the first 10 win season for Barton since the program went 10-8-1 in the fall of 2000.
"It was a great emotional game, showing a lot of heart on Homecoming Day in front of one of our top crowds in recent history," said Barton fifth year head coach Matt Akins.
In a battle of the league's top two goal scorers, Pajunk scored twice in regulation and had the assist on the game-winner for a five point performance. Pajunk leapfrogged King senior Tom Winspear (Yarm, England) for the league lead with 15 goals on the season. Winspear remained at 14 goals after being held scoreless.
Winspear had a great chance to notch a goal in the 82nd minute when he took a penalty kick but Barton senior goalie Brian Riesenberg (Fort Thomas, Ky.) made the diving save to his right.
Barton held a 2-1 lead at halftime but King came out firing in the second half with a 15-5 shot advantage. Riesenberg almost preserved the one-goal lead during the high pressure period making five of his eight saves but after he made the save on Winspear's PK attempt, the loose ball deflected off the left post and went to senior Erik Douglas (Asheville, N.C.) for the equalizer that forced overtime.
The contest seemed destine for e 2-2 draw heading into the final two minutes of overtime until Pajunk showed his stamina and talent by making a one-on-one run starting in the defensive half, beating the defender down the left line and turning the ball towards the goal after reaching the left corner. Pajunk then crossed the ball to fellow Rio de Janeiro, Brazil native De Luca, who was following on the play even though he was fighting a quad injury suffered earlier in the game, for the game-winning Golden Goal.
King took an early lead in the 8th minute on a sophomore Zach Caracciolo (Clarksville, Tenn.) tally off a cross from classmate Joe Mayer (Essex, England).
Pajunk responded with a pair of unassisted goals. Pajunk evened the score in the 13th minute before propelling the Bulldogs ahead in the 27th minute with a seeing-eyed free kick that went through the King wall and just inside the left post. Pajunk increased his league-leading totals to 15 goals, 11 assists and 41 points.
Riesenberg improved his overall record to 10-2 on the year after another strong performance. Coach Akins added, "The key play of the day came from Brian Riesenberg. He kept us in it in the second half and really had an outstanding game."
The Tornado finished with a 20-16 shot edge including a game-high seven attempts by Winspear, who was credited with an assist on the Douglas goal off his PK. Pajunk paced the Bulldogs with five shots.
Barton next visits Conference Carolinas archrival Mount Olive College on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
