Box Score by Kevin Buczek
MOUNT OLIVE, N.C.-Junior Richard Worthy scored bookend goals in a three-goal second half outburst that lead No. 9 Southeast Region ranked Barton College to a 3-1 Conference Carolinas men's soccer road win at archrival Mount Olive College Tuesday night.
The victorious Bulldogs clinched the No. 3 seed in the 2011 Conference Carolinas Tournament after concluding conference play with a 7-4 league ledger. Barton will host the No. 6 seed on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the quarterfinal round. Pairings will be announced after Saturday's games.
"From our standpoint, it was an interesting day," said BC head coach Matt Akins. "We knew we could win and still not host, but Pfeiffer and Less-McRae got big wins, so that really motivated the boys. They knew it was in their hands [to win and get to host] and they took ownership so we could get that home game. We played well against a team that tried to take away what we do best."
BC improved its overall record to 11-5 overall heading into its regular season finale on Saturday when the Bulldogs host Palm Beach Atlantic University on Senior Day at 4 p.m. The 11 wins are the most in a single season since Barton went 15-4-1 in 1998.
After a scoreless first half, Mount Olive (6-11, 4-6) jumped ahead with the opening goal in the 49th off the foot of Murilo Pelegrino. Akins added, "In the first half, we held possession well and moved the ball well, but couldn't find the back of the net. Then, we got down 1-0 right after halftime. They put us under a lot of pressure early, but the boys responded very well. We came up with three goals in a 10-minute span. I could see our guys light up after the first goal and then we just went right at 'em."
Worthy netted the equalizer in the 56th minute with a breakaway goal set up by sophomore Erik Pajunk (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). Worthy's momentum changer started a three-goal flurry for Barton in a 10-minute span.
Sophomore Archer Bane (Greenville, N.C.) scored the go-ahead goal just over five minutes later in the 61st minute on a corner kick. Pajunk took the kick from the left corner and found the head of the high jumping Bane on the far post. Bane's seventh tally of the season proved to be the game winning goal.
Pajunk is the nation's leader in assists and he helped his own cause as his two helpers against MOC increased his impressive season totals to 13 assists and 43 points.
Worthy punched in an insurance goal in the 65th minute on another breakaway. The pair of goals for the Cannock, England, product were Worthy's first two tallies of the year.
Senior goalkeeper Brian Riesenberg (Fort Thomas, Ky.) was supported by a great defensive line as he improved to 10-2 in cage for Barton without needing to make a save against the Trojans.
Barton controlled play finishing with an 11-8 shot advantage and taking twice as many corner kicks, 8-4.
Akins concluded, "We had some hiccups along the way that we would like to have back, but overall, we are still in line to meet the rest of our goals. The boys are really excited heading into the conference tournament."
