Box Score
by Kevin Buczek
CHARLOTTE, N.C.-Sophomore Dante De Luca scored with just three seconds left in regulation to lift visiting Barton College to a dramatic 1-0 Conference Carolinas men's soccer victory over host Queens University of Charlotte on Saturday night at the Queens Athletic Complex.
De Luca snuck past a couple Royals defenders as time was expiring and was able to riffle off the game-winning shot into the left corner as Barton improved to 4-6-1 overall and 3-3-0 in the conference.
Queens had more offensive chances with a 19-3 shot advantage and 8-1 corner kick surplus but the Royals were unable to crack the Bulldogs defense or junior goalkeeper Vasily Yakimkin. Queens suffered its third consecutive defeat to slip to 5-6-0 and 3-2-0.
The hosts had a 6-1 shot edge after the first 45 minutes of scoreless action before the Royals really attacked the Bulldogs offensive third with 13 second half shots. Barton's defensive posted a second shutout it the teams last three games as Yakimkin turned away all eight Queens' shots on goal.
The Royals ripped six consecutive shots in about a six-minute span midway through the second half but Yakimkin made two saves and one attempt off the boot of Erick Suarez went off the crossbar.
Barton was held to just two shots until the last minute as senior Richard Worthy took a wide shot in the 34rd minute and sophomore Ben Bradley just missed a header that ricocheted off the goal post in the 58th minute.
De Luca's theatrics in the final moments increased his league-leading totals to 10 goals and 23 points. The Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, native has scored four goals in the team's last three games and has three game-winning tallies on the campaign.
Barton returns home for a Conference Carolinas clash with local rival Mount Olive College on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
