Box Score by Benny Benton
WILSON, N.C. – The Barton College men's soccer team got its 2014 season off to an impressive start Thursday night, posting a 3-0 shutout over visiting Wingate University at the Barton Soccer Field.
Junior Kevin Strassburger got BC on the board in the game's 17th minute on an opportunity created by some outstanding work from Erik Pajunk. The senior drove down the middle of the pitch and dribbled through three defenders while working toward the right post before touching the ball off to Strassburger, who easily beat Wingate starting keeper Gui Peron on the play.
The score remained 1-0 through halftime and a lightning delay in the 55th minute that stopped play for 38 minutes.
BC struck again in the 73rd minute after Pajunk was fouled just five yards out in the box by all-region defender Victor Tozelli. Barton's Dante De Luca took the penalty kick, beating second-half Wingate keeper Stephen Banick to the left corner for a 2-0 advantage.
The foul was one of 21 called on Wingate in the contest and one of 35 drawn by the two teams in a contest that included several after-whistle shoving episodes. Wingate was issued four yellow cards in the match and Barton was handed three in the dog fight between the two Bulldogs.
Just five minutes after the PK, Barton tacked on a third goal when sophomore Alex David stole the ball off the foot of the keeper, Banick, and tapped the ball into the open net.
Wingate had started the senior Peron, a forward last year and the team's leading scorer, in goal over the sophomore Banick, who was making his collegiate debut in goal. However, Wingate struggled offensively in the first half without him, producing just two shots, neither of them good opportunities.
With Peron back on offense in the second period, Wingate created a few more chances, even finishing the night with an 11-7 edge in shots after a late flurry. However, Barton's defense was solid all night and BC's freshman goalie, Jens Madsen Hordvik, turned away Wingate's two shots on goal to record the shutout in his first collegiate start. His best play came when he lunged to his right to tip wide a shot from inside the 24-yard box by Peron in the 77th minute.
Wingate enjoyed 12-2 edge in corner kicks as Barton's back line cleared away several Wingate threats, but WU could not produce any shots off those opportunities.
The victory ended a two-game losing streak to Wingate, who had beaten Barton by the same 3-0 margin in the two teams' season-opener a year ago.
Barton will make its first road trip of the season on Saturday when it visits Greeneville, Tenn., to take on Tusculum College in a 4 p.m. contest.
