Box Score by Kevin Buczek
GREENEVILLE, Tenn.-Senior midfielder Dante De Luca successfully converted a second-half penalty kick for a second straight game and this time his 89th-minute score proved to be the game-winner for visiting Barton College in Saturday's 2-1 victory at Tusculum College.
Sophomore Alex David also scored for a second time in three days as the Bulldogs remained undefeated on the early season at 2-0.
The Pioneers (0-1), who defeated Barton 1-0 with a goal in the 89th minute last season, were making their season debut on Saturday at Pioneer Field.
De Luca broke the 1-1 tie after Tusculum committed a foul inside its own box with just 95 seconds left in regulation. De Luca, who has led Conference Carolinas in points each of the past two seasons, confidently punched in the go-ahead PK with a well-placed shot inside the left post.
Freshman goalkeeper Jens Madsen Hordvik made a pair of saves in both halves in picking up his second straight win in net for the Bulldogs.
David put the Royal Blue and White on the board first in the 33rd minute. Junior Kevin Strassburger ripped a deep free kick off the crossbar that caromed up high and David headed it into the back twine.
Strassburger, David and De Luca have all produced points in each of the Bulldogs first two tilts.
Senior midfielder Roberto Pimental – the Pioneers game-winning goal scorer against Barton in 2013 – tallied TC's equalizer in the 38th minute. Hordvik got a hand on Pimental's blast from 25 yards out but the shot had enough momentum to cross the goal line.
The Bulldogs were outshot (14-9) and gave up more corner kicks (6-3) for a second time but BC once again was the more disciplined squad committing fewer fouls (9-8) and yellow cards (2-1).
Barton is starting 2-0 for the first time since its 11-7 campaign in 2011. The Bulldogs will attempt to begin a campaign 3-0 for the first time under eighth-year head coach Matt Akins when BC visits Catawba College on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
