Box Score
by Kevin Buczek
GAFFNEY, S.C.-Senior midfielder Richard Worthy scored the lone goal for Barton College as regular season co-champion Limestone College won the 2012 Conference Carolinas Men's Soccer Tournament with a 6-1 victory in the championship game on Sunday afternoon at Saints Field.
The league's highest scoring team had six different goal scorers in the finals including the go-ahead tally by tourney MVP Sam Orritt in the 17th minute. Second-seeded Limestone (13-5-1) – the preseason coaches' pick to win the title – will wait to see if its resume is strong enough to earn a bid to the 2012 NCAA Division II Tournament that will be announced on Monday.
Barton finished its season at 8-9-1 overall. The Bulldogs had three players earn All-Tournament honors in Worthy, junior goalkeeper Vasily Yakimkin and junior midfielder Ricardo Oliveira.
"The Barton boys played a strong defensive game and gave it everything they had this tournament but just ran out of gas in the second half," Barton head coach Matt Akins said. "I am very proud of the total effort these player put into this tournament."
Worthy and fellow seniors Justin Taylor and Luke Costanza wrapped up their collegiate careers in a Royal Blue and White uniform knowing they helped the Bulldogs make a great run at the conference tournament title. Barton's runner-up showing is tied for the best team result in the league tourney in the program's DII history (BC also finished second in 1998).
Coach Akins stated, "Rich Worthy fought through injury all week but had his best game today defending hard and finding the back of the net in a strong 90-minute performance. Our seniors came into this program when this program was building from the ground up."
The contest played much closer than the final score indicated with half of the Saints goals coming in the final 20 minutes. Orritt had the only goal of the first half at the 16:55 mark when he found a loose ball off a corner kick and riffled in the 10-yard shot.
LC had a commanding 16-1 shot advantage at halftime but only led by one because of five saves by Yakimkin.
Oliveira took the Bulldogs only first-half crack at the Saints cage with a 25-yard strike that was turned back by LC freshman goalie Tom Godfrey. A couple minutes later, Barton had another quality look when freshman Daniel Alkmim served in a curling cross from the left wing but Godfrey was able to intercept the ball just before reaching BC junior Archer Bane.
Junior Thomas Metzemaekers doubled up the hosts lead in the 52nd minute. After having his first attempt blocked, Metzemaeker was able to quickly fire off a second shot from the right side of the box to the back twine for what proved to be the Saints game-winning goal. Limestone's advantage grew to 3-nil just over three minutes later on another converted corner kick. Metzemaekers took the corner from the left flag and sophomore Jorge Mackenna was able to head-in volley.
Worthy was able to break-up the shutout bid and close the gap to 3-1 in the 59th minute. Freshman Drew Williams started the Worthy scoring chance with a shot that was blocked out to the left sideline. Williams made the ensuing throw-in to sophomore Dante De Luca, who then chipped the ball to Worthy. The two-time Capital One Academic All-District honoree then made a cut past a Saints defender before blasting a low shot from the top of the 18-yard box into the left corner of the net.
With Barton pushing forward in an attempt to continue its improbable comeback, Limestone was able to take advantage of several courter attacks to tack on three late goals in an eight-minute span off the boots of freshman Benjamin Morande (74th minute), sophomore Tom McCready (79th minute) and freshman Juan Herrera (82nd minute).
McCready and Metzemaekers led the Saints with three-point performances.
Yakimkin finished his busy day protecting the Bulldogs goal with 11 saves. Worthy had two of BC's five shots including an attempt in the 75th minute that was saved. De Luca nearly knocked in the second try with a header but the ball sailed just wide left.
Limestone finished with a 36-5 shot surplus. The Saints had a 6-1 corner kick advantage and scored three times off the set pieces.
