Box Score
by Kevin Buczek
WILSON, N.C.-A 77th minute goal by sophomore midfielder Dante De Luca highlighted a ferocious rally by host Barton College in a narrow 2-1 Southeast Region loss to Wingate University in both squads season opener Thursday evening at the Barton Outdoor Athletic Complex.
Wingate avenged last year's season-opening loss to Barton with goals by senior Gui Lima and Fabio Azeredo to win the battle of the Bulldogs. Wingate starts 2012 at 1-0 and Barton begins 0-1.
Barton has little time to dwell on the loss as the program begins Conference Carolinas play at Erskine College (Due West, S.C.) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The Bulldogs and Flying Fleet were picked tied for fourth in the Conference Carolinas Preseason Coaches' Poll. Barton defeated Erskine in the regular season last year but the Fleet was victorious over the Bulldogs in the quarterfinals of the league tourney.
Lima scored the only goal of the first half on a breakaway set up by junior Pedro Figuiera in the 24th minute.
Wingate had a 10-4 shot advantage in the first half but junior goalkeeper Vasily Yakimkin kept Barton close by making five of his game-high eight saves in the opening 45 minutes. BC was unable to put a shot on frame over that span.
Barton countered with its own 10-4 shot cushion in the second half as both teams finished with 14 total attempts.
The host Bulldogs had several chances at scoring the equalizer including four consecutive shots in a three-minute flurry. Junior Archer Bane took the first two attempts including one quality chance from close range that was saved by sophomore netminder Sanjit Kang. De Luca took the final two strikes including one that beat the goalie but was blocked by a defender near the left post.
The visitors maintained a 1-nil edge until Barton was whistled for a yellow card in the 71st minute. On the ensuing free kick, senior Corey McCollum made a long cross over to sophomore Peron Da Silva who then set up Azeredo with the eventual game winner.
De Luca broke up the shutout bid with 13:27 left as he scored from inside the right side of the box. Freshman Drew Williams started the sequence with a volley to classmate Kevin Stassburger, who then tipped the ball up to De Luca.
Williams and Stassburger were awarded their first collegiate points.
Barton had several more opportunities with two corner kicks and five foul calls on Wingate in the last 10 minutes but Wingate's defense was up to the task. Kang finished with five stops in net.
BC finished with a 7-4 edge on corner kicks and Wingate was blown for more fouls, 17-9.
