Box Score by Cory Guinn
WILSON, N.C. –Three Barton College seniors led the way to a 2-0 shutout of Emmanuel College on Saturday afternoon at the Barton Outdoor Athletic Complex as the Bulldogs claimed their first Conference Carolinas victory of the season.
Barton (2-11-1, 1-7-1) honored its senior class in a ceremony before the game as head coach Matt Akins recognized Jovan Gracia, Kevin Strassburger, Marcus Strath and Drew Williams for their hard work and leadership as members of the program.
Strath put the Bulldogs on the board early in the match with his second career goal in the 8th minute of play. The Norrkoping, Sweden native finished a cross from freshman Tolly Beatson to give BC the 1-0 lead over Emmanuel (5-6-3, 3-4-2).
Beatson record his second assist of the match and fourth of the season in the 27th minute as sophomore Danny Peru gave Barton a 2-0 lead over the Lions. The goal was Peru's first of the season and second of his young career.
BC held on to its first half lead throughout the remainder of the game as Gracia and Williams teamed with Rafael Ribiero and Tyler Dew to form a defense that may have bent, but did not break. Sophomore Jens Madsen Hordvik recorded his second clean sheet of the year with four saves as the Bulldogs outshot the Lions 15-10 in the contest.
The win improves Barton's chances to earn a spot in the conference tournament as they currently sit in the eighth spot in the standing, just one point behind Belmont Abbey College and three points ahead of North Greenville University.
The Bulldogs travel to Murfreesboro, N.C. for a non-conference match against Chowan University on Wednesday, Oct. 28 before traveling to Tigerville to end the regular season against NGU on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 3 p.m.
