by Kevin Buczek
WILSON, N.C.-The Barton College women's soccer team will host its first home game in 18 days when the Lady Bulldogs entertain NAIA member Columbia College (S.C.) on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
Barton College Women's Soccer
The Lady Bulldogs are coming off a solid 3-1 road swing that featured an upset victory over No. 6 NCAA Southeast Region ranked Belmont Abbey College, 1-0, on Saturday. Barton also defeated Bluefield College and St. Andrews University on its early October travels but suffered a loss at Conference Carolinas frontrunner Lees-McRae College.
Barton boasts an 8-4 overall record; its most wins since BC went 8-7-3 in 2008. The Lady Bulldogs last won nine games in 2006 (BC finished that season 9-8).
Emily Futral scored the game-winning goal against the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on a late PK in the 88th minute. Futral moved into a tie for the Barton team-lead in goals scored at six apiece with sophomore Jodi Barber. The duo ranks in a tie for 76th nationally in NCAA Division II in total goals scored as of the last statistics report issued Oct. 14.
Senior Taylor Parrish narrowly follows behind Futral and Barber with five tallies in 2013 to increase her career total to 21 goals. The trio has accounted 17 of Barton's 19 goals on the season.
Barber is also tied with senior Kasey Byzewski for the Lady Bulldogs' most assists with four each. Barber and Byzewski rank 78th nationally in total assists.
Defensively, Barton is coming off consecutive shutout wins with junior goalie Carson Moore making five stops in each contest for her fifth and sixth clean sheets of the season. Moore, who was named Conference Carolinas Player of the Week on Tuesday for her two strong performances in net, ranks 19th nationally with 72 total saves and 65th nationally with a .837 save percentage. The Lady Bulldogs have had shutouts in half of their games, good for a ranking of 43rd in D-II.
Barton – 4-1 in Wilson this season – has not played Columbia College in recent history.
Columbia College Women's Soccer
The Fighting Koalas boast a 12-4 overall record but are coming off a 3-1 setback to USC Aiken on Monday, a team the Lady Bulldogs defeated, 2-0, earlier in the season. Columbia had won seven consecutive matches prior to playing the Pacers with most on the victories coming against its fellow NAIA opposition.
Columbia has a high-scoring offense that has averaged nearly four goals a game this season (3.6 average). Jessica Martinez and Ashley Tanner have 20 and 16 goals, respectively, Martinez also has 14 assists and is averaging 3.38 points per game, ranking fourth nationally in NAIA. Tanner leads the Koalas with 17 assists and her 1.04 assists per game rank fourth nationally in NAIA.
Clare Williams follows Martinez (54 points) and Tanner (49 points) with 28 points (8 goals, 12 assists).
Elise Grider has started the majority of the games of the Fighting Koalas and holds a .716 save percentage. Lauren Zarefoss has also played between the pipes for a Columbia defense that is still allowing 3.25 goals per game.
The Fighting Koalas, who boast a 9-1 home record, are just 3-3 on the road.
Multimedia
Barton sports information will be providing live stats to Wednesday's match against Columbia.
Barton soccer fans can follow the Bulldogs throughout the season on www.BartonBulldogs.com and via social media including Twitter and Facebook.
