Box Score by Kevin Buczek
WILSON, N.C.-Junior defender Jovan Gracia scored with just 6:04 left in regulation to lift host Barton College to a thrilling 1-0 Conference Carolinas men's soccer victory over Belmont Abbey College under the lights at the Barton Soccer Field Wednesday.
Classmate Kevin Strassburger drew a foul in the corner moments earlier and he took the ensuing free kick. Strassburger crossed the ball similar to a corner kick, which was then headed by senior Dante De Luca before making its way to Gracia near the far post. Gracia redirected the ball into the back of the net with his chest to put the Bulldogs in front.
Barton's defense made the 84th-minute tally hold up to end a three-game skid. The Bulldogs improved to 6-4 overall and 2-2 in the league.
The Crusaders were held scoreless for a second straight contest in slipping to 2-6-2 on the season and 1-4 in conference action.
Barton took more than double the shots of Belmont Abbey, 15-7, and had a majority of the scoring chances before Gracia finally put the Bulldogs on the board.
In the first half, BC had three great chances.
Sophomore Craig Edwards had the first good look in the sixth minute but his give-and-go shot with senior Erik Pajunk was stopped at the doorstep by Abbey freshman goalie Luke Whelan. Pajunk set up the next opportunity in the 19th minute, dribbling down the left wing and cutting past three Crusader defenders before making a pass to Strassburger, who then ripped a hard strike off the crossbar. Strassburger hit the post again in the 44th minute with a header that also set up a good look by freshman Danny Peru that went just wide of the right post.
The Bulldogs clanked the ball off the metal three times with senior Jonathan Rembecki also finding the crossbar with a shot in the 50th minute.
Strassburger led the Royal Blue and White with four shots. Pajunk took three cracks at goal and Gracia, Edwards and Peru all took aim twice.
Junior Declan McQuillan took the Abbey's only shot on goal but the header attempt in the 11th minute was saved by freshman goalie Jens Madsen Hordvik. The Crusaders other six shots were off target.
Hordvik (4-2) picked up his second shutout of the season and was supported on defense by Gracia, junior Drew Williams, senior Nick Ahlquist, and freshman Tyler Dew as well as senior Dante De Luca dropping back at times.
Gracia's second career goal was his first of 2014.
Barton is 4-1 at home but the Bulldogs will need to win on the road in order to start a winning streak. Barton visits Emmanuel College on Saturday at 7 p.m.
