Box Score by Kevin Buczek
WINGATE, N.C.-A quartet of Barton Bulldogs scored as the Barton College men's soccer team started its 2011 season with an impressive 4-2 Southeast Region victory over host Wingate University on Thursday night at the Wingate University Soccer Complex.
Barton (1-0) begins a season with a victory for the first time under fifth year head coach Matt Akins, defeating a Wingate (0-1) program that participated in the 2010 NCAA Division II Soccer Tournament and is is predicted to win the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) in 2011.
"It was a great team effort tonight where our defense proved to be up to the challenge of defending a very potent offense in a very heated contest," said fourth year head coach Matt Akins. "Offensively, we had a very well rounded effort as well with four different players recording their first goal of the season."
Barton was able to win the battle of the Bulldogs on the strength of two late goals in less than a minute span that broke open a 1-1 deadlock. Sophomore Archer Bane (Greenville, N.C.) put BC ahead for good in the 71st minute after stuffing away a loose ball off a save. Classmate Erik Pajunk (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) doubled up the visitor's advantage just 46 seconds later with a well-placed chip shot on a breakaway.
Wingate – playing two players down after receiving multiple cards – made things interesting on a freshman Peron Da Silva accurate strike off a senior Tom Poole corner kick in the 85th minute that closed the score to 3-2.
Freshman David Welsh (North Berwick, Scotland) ended Wingate's comeback attempt with a last-minute tally. Welsh had an impressive collegiate debut with a three-point performance after earning an assist on Bane's goal.
Barton never trailed and took an early lead on an opening score by sophomore Danilo Matos (Lauro de Freitas, Brazil) in the 13th minute. Barton maintained 1-nil lead through halftime before junior Gui Lima knotted the score for Wingate with a goal in the 50th minute.
Matos and Welsh both scored their first collegiate goals. Pajunk, the reigning Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year, continued his offensive output in a Royal Blue and White uniform leading Barton offensively with four points including helpers on scores by Matos and Welsh.
Brian Riesenberg (Fort Thomas, Ky.) began his senior season with the complete-game victory protecting Barton's net. Riesenburg held off Wingate early with four saves in the first half before securing the win in goal with one more stop in the final 45 minutes.
BC finished with a 16-11 shot advantage and a 5-4 corner kick edge.
Barton will host another Southeast Region foe Lenoir-Rhyne University in its home opener on Saturday at 7 p.m.
