Box Score by Kevin Buczek
WILSON, N.C.-Freshman Dante De Luca (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) scored the game-winning goal in the 76th minute to lead the Barton College men's soccer team to a 2-1 Southeast Region victory over Lenoir-Rhyne University on Saturday night at the Barton Outdoor Athletic Complex.
The Bulldogs (2-0) remained undefeated on the early season after defeating the Bears (0-2) by a 2-1 score for the second straight year. Lenoir-Rhyne finished with a 14-12 shot edge but Barton senior goalkeeper Brian Riesenberg (Fort Thomas, Ky.) made seven key saves.
"A great two games under our belts that will give this group tremendous confidence with one more non-conference game before we enter league play," said Matt Akins, Barton head coach.
The Bears were controlling play in the second half including four consecutive shots leading up to Barton's go-ahead goal but Riesenberg (2-0) make three of his seven saves in that span to keep the score knotted at 1-1.
After surviving the flurry by Lenoir-Rhyne, Barton took advantage of a transition play as sophomore Danilo Matos (Lauro de Freitas, Brazil) dribbled the ball up the middle of the field before feeding it to classmate Erik Pajunk (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) on the right flank. Pajunk then crossed the ball into the Bears box where De Luca finished off the play with an accurate low shot.
Akins added, "It was another well rounded game for the Bulldogs on both sides of the ball. Our ability to move the ball with speed was the key to unlock a very strong defensive side."
Lenoir-Rhyne was held to just one shot – a high header off a corner kick – in the final 14 minutes as Barton posted its second straight win over a Southeast Region foe from the South Atlantic Conference (SAC).
Sophomore Chibuzo Nwosu (Macon, Ga.) gave the visitors an early lead with a goal on the first shot of the game just three minutes and 30 seconds into play before Riesenberg and the Bulldogs' defense held Lenoir-Rhyne scoreless for the final 86 minutes.
Sophomore Mehmet Karakillinc was credited with an assist on Nwosu's goal.
Matos evened the score before halftime on a pretty give-and-go with Pajunk in the 30th minute. Matos has a goal in both Barton games this season and Pajunk increased his assist total to four in two games.
Barton will next host Methodist University on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
