by Benny Benton
WILSON, N.C. – The Barton College women's soccer team hopes to maintain its spot in the top four of the Conference Carolinas standings on Tuesday when it travels to Misenheimer, N.C., for a 2 p.m. showdown against second-place Pfeiffer University.
Barton College Women's Soccer
The Lady Bulldogs (9-5, 3-3) dropped a 1-0 decision at North Greenville University on Saturday, ending a three-match winning streak. It continued a pattern over the past 12 games in which Barton has won three and lost the next one.
Despite the setback, Barton remains in a tie for fourth place with Converse College, which lost to Pfeiffer at home on Saturday, 1-0. The spot is a critical one, as the top four teams get to host a first-round match in the Conference Carolinas Tournament.
Sophomore Jodi Barber recorded her first hat trick for Barton on Wednesday, scoring three times against Columbia to increase her season goal total to nine, which is second in the league. She also assisted the other goal in the 4-1 victory, giving her five for the year, which is tied for tops in the conference. Barber now has 23 points, which is the best in Conference Carolinas.
Emily Futral has six goals for the Lady Bulldogs, while Taylor Parrish has five. Kasey Byzewski has four assists, while Amanda Almonte has three.
Barton keeper Carson Moore ranks second in the league in saves with 77. The reigning Conference Carolinas Player of the Week has a 1.12 goals against average and a .828 save percentage.
The Lady Bulldogs have not beaten the Falcons in nearly a decade, losing nine straight since a 1-0 victory in Misenheimer in 2003. Last year, Parrish gave Barton a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute, but Pfeiffer scored the next four goals to win easily.
Barton is 4-3 on the road in 2013.
Pfeiffer University Women's Soccer
The Falcons (9-5, 5-2) enter Tuesday's match with the momentum of a five-game winning streak, having defeated league foes Mount Olive College, North Greenville and Converse, as well as non-conference opponents Chowan University and Brevard College.
Pfeiffer's run has coincided with the emergence of senior keeper Natalie Marsh, who has six starts, including the past five matches. In those six appearances, she has given up just one goal. Her scant 0.18 goals against average and .944 save percentage lead the league.
She took over for freshman Kate Halligan, who has eight starts, including key matches against top league foes Limestone, Lees-McRae and Belmont Abbey. Halligan is 3-5 in goal with a 1.49 goals against mark. Her 52 saves are tied for fifth in the conference.
Offensively, the Falcons have been paced by freshman Brae Buster, who scored Pfeiffer's lone goal in the win over Converse. Buster has eight goals and 19 points, which both rank third in the conference.
Junior Kayla Richardson has added six goals and 15 points, while sophomore Aaliyah Jackson has chipped in five goals and 11 points.
The Falcons have had 35 total goals this year from 14 different players.
Pfeiffer and Barton are both 3-2 against common opponents in 2013. The Falcons are 3-2 at home this season.
Multimedia
Pfeiffer sports information will provide live stats for Tuesday's match.
Barton soccer fans can follow the Bulldogs throughout the season on www.BartonBulldogs.com and via social media including Twitter and Facebook.
