Box Score by Benny Benton
WILSON, N.C. – Barton College senior Erik Pajunk staked the Bulldogs to an early advantage with his team-leading fifth goal of the season Saturday night, but the Bulldogs could not make the lead stand in a 2-1 home loss to Southern Wesleyan University.
The setback is the second in a row for the Bulldogs since moving up to No. 4 in the Southeast Region rankings earlier this week, and drops BC to 5-3 overall and 1-1 in league play.
Southern Wesleyan, which is in the midst of a transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II, is playing a full Conference Carolinas schedule for the first time this year, although the Warriors are not eligible for post-season play. So the win is the first in the league for SWU (5-3, 1-2), which had dropped its two previous conference matches.
Senior Joao Oliveira provided the game-winner for the Warriors with less than 10 minutes to go in the contest when he dribbled past several Barton defenders while driving the right wing and then chipped over charging BC keeper Derek Collins.
The goal was a painful end to what had been a promising start for Barton. Pajunk, the reigning Conference Carolinas Men's Soccer Player of the Week, forced a save from SWU keeper Ruben Rodriguez just 1:52 into the match, and he beat Rodriguez in the 12th minute following a pass into the box from Kevin Strassburger. Just over a minute later, Pajunk nearly added a second goal, rifling a shot from the top of the box that narrowly missed curling into the upper right corner of the net.
Barton took the first six shots of the match and the first four corner kicks, but could not add to its lead. When Southern Wesleyan did finally get a shot attempt in the 27th minute, senior Bruno Liozzi made the most of it. Senior Alejandro Sanchez set up the chance by driving the right sideline, then crossing the ball to Liozzi at the top of the box. Liozzi ripped a shot that went over the head of the keeper, Collins, but under the crossbar, tying the match at 1-all on his second goal of the season.
Both Liozzi and Pajunk narrowly missed another opportunity to score before the half ended. Liozzi missed just high on another shot similar to the one on which he scored, and Pajunk hit the crossbar on an attempt in the final five minutes of the period.
The Bulldogs maintained the offensive pressure early in the second period, with Strassburger rocking the crossbar on a shot less than six minutes in, and freshman Alex Blake firing one just over the crossbar four minutes later.
At that point, however, Southern Wesleyan began to assert itself, and the two sides fought through a more evenly played contest until Oliveira's late goal.
Barton finished the night with a 15 to 11 advantage in attempts and a narrow 6-5 edge in shots on goal. Barton took six of the eight corner kicks in the match, and Southern Wesleyan drew 24 of the 34 fouls. The Warriors were issued five yellow cards in the match, with BC drawing one.
Rodriguez had five saves in the win for SWU, while Collins posted three saves in the loss for Barton.
The road gets no easier for the Bulldogs. Their next match is on the road next Saturday at Limestone College, which is 7-0 and ranked No. 4 in the country. The Saints have won the last two Conference Carolinas regular-season and tournament crowns.
