Box Score by Kevin Buczek
GAFFNEY, S.C.-Sophomore Kevin Strassburger started a rally for third-seeded Barton College with the Bulldogs only goal but second-seeded Limestone College held onto an early lead to prevail 2-1 in the semifinals of the 2013 Conference Carolinas Men's Soccer Tournament at Saints Field on Friday afternoon.
The Saints – ranked 15th nationally in the current NSCAA/Continental Tire Coaches' Top-25 Poll – advance to the championship game of the league tourney for a second straight season. Limestone (14-3 overall) will try and defend its title against the winner of the fifth-seeded Pfeiffer University at top-seeded Erskine College semifinal that is being played on Friday at 5 p.m.
Barton (9-8-1) started its season 0-4-1 but was able to produce a winning season under seventh year head coach Matt Akins with strong play over the final six weeks, especially on the road. The Bulldogs went 7-2 on the road with the squads' only road losses coming at then-12th ranked Wingate to start the season and the current 15th ranked Saints to end the campaign.
Limestone ended Barton's seven-game road win streak by jumping out to a 2-nil advantage in the first eight minutes on a pair of tallies by All-Conference performers Sam Orritt and Jack Bailey. Orritt, a junior First Team midfielder selection, collected a failed Barton clear and poked the opening goal inside the far post just 2:06 into play. Bailey, a senior Second Team forward honoree, doubled up the Saints' advantage at the 6:37 mark. Bailey one-timed a curling shot inside the right post with the outside of his foot.
Barton has had a tendency to fall behind in games in 2013. Friday's match marked the 10th time an opponent scored the opening goal of a game and the Bulldogs were only able to come back one time (St. Andrews).
The hosts took 10 of the first 12 shots before a header by Strassburger in the 39th minute cut the Barton deficit in half. Strassburger finished off a long free kick taken by junior First Team All-Conference honoree Erik Pajunk for his fourth goal of the season.
Pajunk, who ended his junior season with a team- and league-best 13 assists, created several good scoring chances for the Bulldogs and had four of BC's first eight shot attempts. Pajunk sent a shot from the left wing just high in the 34th minute and later made a dangerous crossing pass through the mouth of Limestone's goal in the 56th minute. Pajunk's pass was a second too early for a cutting Archer Bane, who just missed getting a foot on it by the far post. Barton's last scoring chance came on a free kick in the final two minutes after Pajunk was fouled, but the forward was unable to get off a solid serve looking visible shaken up by the hard foul.
Senior goalie Vasily Yakimkin settled down for Barton after the opening 10 minutes and kept the Bulldogs comeback hopes alive making nine consecutive saves, including a couple on Limestone breakaway opportunities in the second half. Yakimkin had six stops in final 45 minutes against one of the nation's highest scoring offenses, ranking third nationally with 3.33 goals per game.
Pajunk finished with five shots. Junior Dante De Luca was the only other Barton player with more than one shot taking two attempts off frame. The Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, duo both earned First Team All-Conference honors announced by the league office on Thursday.
Senior midfielder Ricardo Oliveira, a Second Team All-Conference honoree, garnered All-Tournament distinction for the Bulldogs for a second straight season for his help in Barton's postseason run.
Limestone finished with a 14-11 shot surplus with Bailey taking 11 cracks at Barton's goal including seven on frame. The Saints also finished with a 10-2 corner kick edge.
