Box Score by Benny Benton
WILSON, N.C. – For the second straight match, the Barton College women's soccer team battled valiantly for 85 minutes only to watch their efforts go for naught after giving up a late goal.
On Saturday it was Limestone College who struck with 3:27 left to put a dagger in the heart of the Lady Bulldogs, and on Wednesday at the Barton Outdoor Athletics Complex it was Belmont Abbey Colllege who left the Royal Blue and White stunned after scoring with 2:59 to go to sneak away with a 1-0 victory.
The goal sequence began after a corner kick. BAC's Laura Shelton took the corner, but instead of playing it towards the goal, played the ball back down the sideline. From there, Belmont's leading scorer, Meghan Philp, chipped a ball into the middle of the box, where sophomore Cierra Skyers found space in the crowd and fired past Barton keeper Kelsey Rothwell for her fifth goal of the season. The assist was Philp's third of the year.
Barton nearly recorded the equalizer just 20 seconds later, as sophomore Kathryn Smith worked free on the right wing for BC's best look of the night, but the ball rocked the crossbar and returned to the field of play. Barton's leading scorer, Lane Brooks, made one more attempt from the far left wing with 2:07 left, but Belmont Abbey keeper Hannah Kohls stepped in front of it for her third save of the night to preserve her fourth shutout of the season.
The loss dropped the Lady Bulldogs to 5-3-1 overall and 2-3 in Conference Carolinas play, while Belmont Abbey improved to 4-5-2 overall and 3-2 in league competition.
In a first half that saw both sides take three shots, Ashley Batchelor produced the best chance for Barton, firing a shot just over the crossbar with 18 minutes left in the period. The Crusaders had two very good opportunities on a pair of blasts from the 25-yard range, but Rothwell denied both with strong plays in goal.
Belmont Abbey immediately increased tempo to start the second half and nearly scored on a Shelton attempt from the top of the box just 21 seconds into the period, but the ball hit the crossbar. The Crusaders added two more good shots in the first six minutes, both stopped by Rothwell, who finished the night with five saves.
The Crusaders ended the night with an 11-9 edge in shots and a 6-3 advantage in attempts on goal.
Barton will attempt to get back in the win column on Saturday when it travels to Franklin Springs, Ga., for a 5 p.m. match against Emmanuel College.
