Box Score
by Kevin Buczek
HARTSVILLE, S.C.-Junior transfer Daniel Alkmim scored an early goal to give Barton College the initial lead but host Coker College rattled off four unanswered goals to rally for a 4-2 Conference Carolinas men's soccer victory on Thursday night at the Coker Soccer Field.
The 2011 Conference Carolinas Tournament defending champion Cobras improved to 6-3-0 overall and 3-1-0 in the league behind a six-point performance by Niko Tirkkonen. The Bulldogs were unable to win a third straight conference match, slipping to 3-6-1 overall and 2-3-0 in league tilts.
Coker held a dominating 21-9 shot advantage but Barton junior goalkeeper Vasily Yakimkin made 10 saves.
Alkmim caged his first goal in a Royal Blue and White uniform in the 16th minute from six-yards out on an assist by junior Archer Bane to give the visitors the 1-0 lead.
The Cobras rallied with the next four scores including the equalizer by defending Conference Carolinas Player of the Year Carlos Recinos in the 22 minute. Daniel Jackson put Coker ahead for good with an accurate header in the 28th minute.
Tirkkonen, who recorded assists on the Cobras first two tallies, extended Coker's lead to 3-1 before halftime with a tally in the 41st minute. Tirkkonen netted his second goal of the game and sixth of the season with another unassisted marker in the 57th minute.
Sophomore Dante De Luca pulled the Bulldogs to within two in the 72nd minute with his league-leading ninth goal of the season. De Luca ripped a free kick that deflected off a Coker wall and into the back twine.
De Luca and Bane each took a shot on goal after De Luca's tally but reserve goalie Mark Nankervis made the stop each time. Starter James Sweeney picked up the win in net making three saves over the first 70 minutes while Nankervis recorded three saves as well in the final 20 minutes.
Barton visits Queens University of Charlotte on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
