Box Score by Kevin Buczek
WINGATE, N.C.-Wingate University – ranked 12th nationally in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) NCAA Division II preseason top-25 poll – scored three goals in the first 46 minutes and held visiting Barton College to just three shots on goal en route to a season-opening 3-0 Southeast Region men's soccer victory on Thursday evening.
Wingate (1-0) had three different goal scorers to successfully start its regional defense after winning the NCAA Tournament Southeast Regional championship in 2012. Barton (0-1) dropped its season-opener to WU for a second straight season.
Barton senior goalkeeper Vasily Yakimkin was tested early and often. The senior netminder made a highlight reel diving stop to his right in the first minute to temporarily keep Wingate off the scoreboard but the host Bulldogs capitalized on their next chance a minute later to take control.
Sophomore midfielder Shaun Gadsby opened up the scoring at the 1:54 mark. Gadsby received a giveaway pass from classmate Cameron Burrows in the box and scored with a low shot inside the right post.
Barton had several scoring chances in the first 20 minutes including four unsuccessful corner kicks. The visiting Bulldogs first corner kick came in the fourth minute just moments after a senior Archer Bane shot was just tipped wide by Wingate junior goalie Daniel DeGraff.
Liam Gillesphey, a sophomore midfielder, doubled up Wingate's advantage in the 22nd minute. Gillesphey took a free kick just outside the left corner of the 18-yard box and bounced a curling shot into the far post net.
Wingate took the 2-nil cushion into the intermission with a commanding 13-2 shot advantage. Junior forward Danilo Matos had Barton's only other shot on goal in the first 45 minutes.
An unassisted tally by sophomore midfielder James Card from the right flank just 22 seconds into the second half kept the momentum in favor of Wingate.
Barton took four of its seven total shots in the final period but only a late header by sophomore Nathan Spears was on frame. Junior Dante De Luca had a team-high two strikes.
Wingate finished with a 21-7 shot surplus including 8-3 on net.
Barton will host Southeast Region foe Catawba College in its home opener on Saturday at 7 p.m.
