Box Score by Benny Benton
WILSON, N.C.-Dante De Luca scored his team-leading fourth goal for Barton College Saturday night against Limestone College, but the Saints showed why they are ranked among the region's top teams in claiming a 3-1 victory at the Barton Outdoor Athletic Complex.
The contest was a rematch of last year's Conference Carolinas Tournament Championship Game, which Limestone won 6-1 after scoring five second-half goals.
This time, the Saints (5-1, 2-0) did all their damage in the first half. Just over five minutes into the match, Bryce Ziada fired a shot from just off the left post which Barton keeper Vasily Yakimkin knocked down. The ball came right back to Ziada, who put the ball away off the deflection to give Limestone a quick 1-0 advantage.
Thomas Metzemaekers added to the Saints' lead 15 minutes into the half, ripping a loose ball from 25 yards out over the top of the defense and Yakimkin for his third goal of the year.
Halfway through the period, Limestone was called for a handball in the box, setting up a penalty kick for De Luca, who beat Limestone keeper Kyle Karagitz to cut the Barton deficit to 2-1.
However, the Saints put an insurance goal on the board just 39 seconds before halftime. Sam Orritt played a through ball to the right post, where Benjamin Morande put the ball away for his conference-best eighth goal of the year. Morande has now scored in four straight matches.
After combining for 17 shot attempts in the first half, the two sides managed just 11 in the scoreless second period. Barton enjoyed a 10 to three edge in corner kicks, but could not take advantage of the opportunities.
Karagitz collected six saves in the win for Limestone, while Yakimkin turned away eight shots in goal for the Bulldogs.
Barton, now 1-5-1 overall and 1-2 in league play, has fallen to three regionally-ranked teams this season. Limestone entered the night as the No. 4 team in the Southeast.
The contest ended a streak of six straight home matches for the Bulldogs. Six of the next seven games for Barton will be on the road, starting Wednesday afternoon with a 5 p.m. match at Lenoir-Rhyne.
