by Benny Benton
WILSON, N.C. – Two nationally-ranked men's soccer programs will collide on Saturday near our nation's capital when No. 19 Barton College visits No. 21 University of the District of Columbia for a non-conference matchup.
Both squads are also ranked No. 3 in their respective regions, Barton in the Southeast and UDC in the East.
Due to construction on the UDC campus, the contest has been moved to Long Bridge Park in Arlington, Va., for a 4 p.m. start. (For those traveling to attend, the address is 475 Long Bridge Dr.)
Because the match has been moved off-campus, live stats and video will not be available. Fans should check www.BartonBulldogs.com for results and other information. Bulldog followers can also keep up with the team throughout the season on social media including Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Barton College Men's Soccer
After receiving its first national ranking under head coach Matt Akins – now in his eighth season – on Tuesday, Barton went out the following night and suffered its first setback of the season after falling into an early 2-0 hole at Catawba from which it could not recover.
The Bulldogs (2-1) did cut the deficit to a single goal on two occasions, the first just two and a half minutes into the second period on a goal from Jonathan Rembecki off an assist from Erik Pajunk, and the second in the 69th minute on a tally by sophomore forward Alex David. However, Catawba added a goal in-between those two goals to provide the insurance it needed for a 3-2 victory.
David has scored a goal in each of Barton's three matches this year and shares the Conference Carolinas lead with four others. Pajunk picked up his second assist of the year on the goal by Rembecki to pace the Bulldogs in that category.
Freshman keeper Jens Madsen Hordvik, who had allowed just one goal in two previous matches, saw his goals against average jump to 1.33 following the Catawba match. Hordvik has eight saves on the year and a .667 save percentage.
Barton has played UDC twice in the NCAA Division II era, both times in Wilson. The Bulldogs won 4-3 in 2008 and 1-0 in 2009.
University of the District of Columbia Men's Soccer
The Firebirds (2-0-1) earned their first national ranking in school history on Tuesday after two very quality road wins to open the season over 2013 NCAA Division II Tournament teams. UDC edged Slippery Rock University 2-1 while holding the defending Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference champions to just four shots on goal. The Firebirds claimed another 2-1 win at Wilmington University, which advanced to the second round of the NCAA tourney a season ago.
In its first match after gaining its national ranking, UDC also struggled early at California University of Pennsylvania, giving up a goal less than six minutes in. The Firebirds tied the match, then fell behind again in the 79th minute, but tied it back in the 81st minute and moved in front with a goal in the 86th minute. However, UDC could not finish off the match, giving up a match-tying goal with two and a half minutes left to play. After four goals in nine minutes late in regulation, the two sides could not score in the two five-minute overtime sessions and settled for a 3-3 tie.
Five different players have scored for the Firebirds already this year, with sophomore forward Felix Angerer the only player with two goals. Each of the squad's five assists have also come from different players.
Junior goalkeeper Louis Connor has posted a 1.55 goals against average and a .722 save percentage while collecting 13 saves in the three matches.
UDC was picked seventh in the East Coast Conference preseason poll after finishing 7-6-3 a year ago, but the Firebirds returned nine of their top 10 scorers and 15 lettermen from that 21-man roster.
