Box Score by Kevin Buczek
BELMONT, N.C.-Sophomore Emily Futral confidently converted on a penalty kick in the 88th minute as Barton College stunned NSCAA/Continental Tire Southeast Region sixth ranked Belmont Abbey College, 1-0, in Conference Carolinas women's soccer action Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field.
Junior goalie Carson Moore made five saves in the Lady Bulldogs sixth shutout of the season as Barton handed the Abbey its first league loss. Barton improved to 8-4 overall and 3-2 in the league and the Crusaders dipped to 8-3-1 on the year and 4-1-1 in conference skirmishes.
Futral's sixth goal of the season lifted the Royal Blue and White to its first win against Belmont Abbey since 2002, ending a streak of 11 consecutive Crusader wins.
Abbey controlled the first half with an 11-5 shot advantage but Moore made four of her five saves in the first 45 minutes to keep play scoreless at halftime. The Crusaders best opportunity came with about 20 minutes left on a chip shot by Jillian Lang, but Moore was able to retreat and tap the ball over the crossbar at the last second.
The Lady Bulldogs played a much more even second half with both squads riffling off seven shots. Sophomore Jodi Barber took a team-high four shots including a pair on goal that resulted in the only two saves by Abbey goalie Hannah Kohls.
Barton was awarded the PK attempt with 2:28 left in regulation after Kohls committed a pushing-from-behind foul inside the 18-yard box. Futral stepped up and went right with her game-winner. Kohls guessed correctly diving in the direction of the approaching shot but Futral's accurate strike eluded the goalie.
Futral and Barber lead Barton with six goals apiece, ranking in a four-way tie for third most in the league.
The defending Conference Carolinas Tournament champion Crusaders finished with an 18-12 shot edge including six cracks by Jillian Lang.
Both teams had five corner kick chances and each team was whistled offsides just once.
Barton next hosts the Columbia College (S.C.) Fighting Koalas in a non-conference match on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
