Box Score by Benny Benton
WILSON, N.C.-The Barton College women's soccer team made its first home match of 2013 a successful one, blanking USC Aiken, 2-0, at the Barton Soccer Field Friday evening.
Sophomores Emily Futral and Jodi Barber, reunited teammates from White Oak High School's 2011 state title team, provided the goals for the Lady Bulldogs to claim their first win of the year. Senior Kasey Byzewski, a former three-sport standout in high school playing in her first collegiate season, contributed both assists.
The win gave first-year Barton head coach Chris Shaw his first victory in the Royal Blue and White. Barton improved to 1-2 on the season, while USC Aiken pulled even on the year at 2-2.
Junior goalie Carson Moore earned the shutout, recording four saves in the win.
Barton struck quickly against the visiting Pacers, taking the lead in the 10th minute when Byzewski curved a corner kick perfectly into the box, and Futral battled a pack of players to the ball, firing it past USC Aiken's starting keeper, Melissa Westphal, for the 1-0 advantage.
The Lady Bulldogs had three more very good scoring opportunities over the next 10 minutes, each just missing the net.
The Pacers had a great scoring chance of their own in the 35th minute when Megan Smits passed a ball from the goalline back to an open Jenna Beauregard at the top of the box, but her shot hit the crossbar and was then cleared away.
Barton suffered a similar fate in the second half. Kathryn Smith ripped a shot off the crossbar and had another chance glance away off the post. Barber also got an unkind bounce from the post in the period.
However, one shot Barber did not miss came in the 57th minute. Following a Pacer foul, Byzewski fired a deep through ball from midfield toward the net, which the sophomore transfer Barber corralled and shot past second-half keeper Alli Edens for her first goal with the Lady Bulldogs.
Although USC Aiken recorded 12 shots in the match, few challenged Moore. One exception was a shot by the Pacers' Megan Smits from the right wing to just inside the left post which Moore dove to deflect away at the last minute.
The Pacers enjoyed a 9-3 advantage in corner kicks, but could not convert the chances into points. USC Aiken's comeback hopes were made more difficult by having to compete down a player for the last 15 minutes following a red card. The Pacers also drew three yellow cards and Barton was given one in a contest that saw 30 fouls called.
Barton hopes to continue its momentum on Sunday when it hosts another Peach Belt Conference foe, Young Harris College, in a 1 p.m. match.
