Box Score by Benny Benton
GAFFNEY, S.C. – Barton College senior Erik Pajunk capped a stellar career with the Bulldogs' first goal ever in NCAA Division II Tournament competition Thursday night five minutes into their match against No. 16 Wingate University, but those other Bulldogs roared back with four unanswered goals to claim a 4-1 victory at Limestone College's Saints Field.
Wingate, the South Atlantic Conference regular-season champion, scored the final three goals in the last 25 minutes of the contest to put a lopsided margin on a match that had been 1-1 since the 13th minute.
The loss for Barton, the No. 6 seed in the Southeast Regional, ended a special season at 13-7. Wingate, 14-4-1 and the No. 3 seed, advances to face No. 2 seed and host Limestone on Saturday night.
"I don't think the score line was indicative of the competitiveness of the game," Barton head coach Matt Akins said. "It was unfortunate that it fell the way it did, but I'm very proud that we had this opportunity and that we competed the way we did. We can hold our heads high with our first representation in the NCAA Tournament."
Barton could not have started any better. The very first shot taken by the Bulldogs in their NCAA Division II Tournament history went in. Just 5:21 into the match, Pajunk took a throw-in from Kevin Strassburger along the left sideline, made two steps toward the middle of the field and ripped a shot from 20-25 yards out past Wingate keeper Stephen Banick and into the net for a 1-0 BC lead.
The goal was the ninth of the year for the four-time all-conference player and the 42nd of his outstanding career.
"Erik's goal was a brilliant shot from distance," Akins said. "All of our seniors can be proud of the way they went out."
Six minutes later, Wingate got off its first shot, an attempt by Aksel Juul from the right wing. Although that one missed, WU cashed in another opportunity just 30 seconds later. A tackle attempt by a Barton defender failed at midfield, leaving the door open for Juul to fire again from the right wing into the far low corner of the net past BC freshman keeper Jens Madsen Hordvik.
Wingate had two other golden opportunities created by Barton miscues, one a failed clear and another when a defender was caught out of position at midfield. Both attempts were taken by South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year Charlie Machell, the first missing just wide right with 4:30 to go and the second hitting the post with 1:40 left.
WU took seven shots in the period to Barton's two, but the two sides went to the break tied at 1-all.
A great clear by Barton defender Jovan Gracia prevented a shot by Machell from point-blank range nine minutes into the second half, and Hordvik made a superb save on an attempt from close on the left wing by Garret Bridgewater three minutes later.
Although both team had opportunities, the score remained knotted at 1-all until a Barton turnover allowed Wingate freshman David Fairgrieve to collect the loose ball at the top of the box and drive to score the go-ahead goal in the 66th minute, just the second of his young career.
The goal fueled Wingate's spirit, and the team spent the next few minutes firing shots at Hordvik. Barton's young keeper knocked down consecutive attempts from close range by Shaun Gadsby and Bridgewater, and deflected another shot by Cameron Burrows wide of the right post just 20 seconds later.
In the 73rd minute, WU finally found the mark again. Liam Gillesphey served a ball to the left wing, where Gadsby ripped a shot that deflected off Hordvik and into the bottom right corner of the net, giving Wingate a 3-1 advantage that would largely put an end to Barton's hopes.
The Royal Blue and White tried to press and create a scoring opportunity to get back into the match, but managed just one attempt on goal, that one saved easily by Banick.
