Box Score by Kevin Buczek
WILSON, N.C.-Sophomore Emily Futral scored the game-tying goal in the 88th minute and classmate Jodi Barber netted the golden goal just a couple minutes later in the first overtime to rally third-seed Barton College to a 2-1 win over sixth-seed North Greenville University in the quarterfinals of the 2013 Conference Carolinas Women's Soccer Tournament on a frigid Monday night at the Barton Outdoor Athletic Complex.
Barton (13-5 overall) advances to the semifinals and will play at second-seeded Belmont Abbey College on Thursday at 2 p.m. Belmont Abbey (14-3-1) – currently ranked fifth in the Southeast Region – advanced with a 2-0 win against seventh-seeded Limestone on Monday afternoon. On the other side of the bracket, No. 8 seed King University shocked No. 1 seed Lees-McRae College, 1-0, and No. 4 seed Pfeiffer University edged No. 5 seed Converse College, 3-1.
The winner of the Barton-Belmont Abbey semifinal will host the championship game against the winner of the Pfeiffer-King semifinal on Saturday at 1 p.m.
The Lady Bulldogs move onto the semifinals of the league tourney for the first time since 2005, which happens to be the same season Barton last won 14 games.
North Greenville (7-10) was on the verge of upsetting the Lady Bulldogs despite being outshot 27-3.
Junior Franki Jumper put the Crusaders in front with a goal at the 57:39 mark off a junior Erin McLure free kick. McLure served the ball into the box from near the left sideline and the ball bounced by a couple players before Jumper was able to get a foot onto it and knocked it inside the near post.
NGU senior goalie Katie Tate, a Division I transfer from the College of Charleston, was the story for most of the match making 12 consecutive saves. Tate made first-half saves on Futral, senior Taylor Parrish, freshman Amanda Almonte and freshman Kathryn Smith to keep the game scoreless at halftime. Tate continued her strong play in a busier second half, making eight more stops including three more on Smith.
The Lady Bulldogs were pressuring the Crusaders defense non-stop in the second half and finished with a 16-2 shot surplus in the period. The relentless drive set up a late free kick taken by senior defender Kasey Byzewski from about 20-yards out after NGU received the contests only yellow card. Byzewski slipped the ball past North Greenville's wall on the restart and found Futral for the easy score from close range with just 2 minutes and 32 seconds left in regulation.
Futral's equalizer was her ninth tally of the season while Byzewski's helper was her ninth assist.
Barton carried the momentum into the first of two scheduled sudden-victory overtime periods and Barber finished off the comeback just 1:59 later in the 92nd minute. Freshman Kelly Dolan started the game-ending rush by dribbling the ball across midfield on the left wing before passing it over to Parrish, who quickly turned and launched the ball towards the goal. Barber was able to chip the accurate serve by Parrish over Tate and into the back twine.
Barton is riding a season-long, five-game win streak and Barber has had points in each of those five triumphs. Barber leads Conference Carolinas with 15 goals, nine assists and 39 points.
The Lady Bulldogs are 5-0 in overtime games this season with Parrish either scoring or assisting on all five golden goals. Dolan assist on the game-winner was her first collegiate point.
Barton improved to 8-1 at home and has a chance to play in Wilson one more time if the Lady Bulldogs can knock off Belmont Abbey on Thursday. BC did knock off the Abbey in the regular season, 1-0, on the road. Futral scored that game-winner on a penalty kick in the 88th minute when the Crusaders were ranked sixth in the region.
Junior netminder Carson Moore made one save en route to her 14th win. Moore denied junior Ansley Dobbs on a shot in the 8th minute and was instrumental in breaking up several other NGU scoring changes.
