Box Score by Benny Benton
WINGATE, N.C. – For 87 of the 90 minutes in Thursday night's season-opener, the Barton College men's soccer team held its own with No. 22 Wingate University.
However, the nationally-ranked Bulldogs netted a goal in the 39th minute and benefitted from an own goal scored by the visiting Bulldogs less than three minutes later to take a 2-0 victory before a crowd of more than 250 at Pride Park and a national broadcast audience on ESPN3.
An experienced Wingate lineup that included nine starters from last year's South Atlantic Conference regular-season title team controlled play for much of the night, running up a 20-8 edge in total shots. However, Barton's back line kept its side in the contest, clearing a number of threatening chances, and Wingate managed to put just five of its attempts on frame.
BC's sophomore keeper, Jens Madsen Hordvik, produced three saves, including a tip-away over the crossbar on a header by all-region selection Charlie Machell in the 36th minute to keep the game scoreless.
But less than two minutes later, Wingate took advantage of a Barton foul just inside the midfield line to set up the game-winning goal. Liam Gillesphey fired a free kick from the left side to Callum Ross along the right endline. Ross then crossed the ball in front of the net to Alex Nelson, who drilled a header just out of the reach of Hordvik to put WU up 1-0.
Less than three minutes later, Wingate's Shaun Gadsby lobbed a ball toward the Barton net. A BC defender attempted to clear the ball, but his header floated over Hordvik's head and into the Barton net, extending Wingate's lead to 2-nil.
Barton, which lost four of its top five scorers from last year's NCAA Tournament team, struggled to create offensive chances against Wingate's veteran defense. Four BC players managed one shot on goal each, all saved by Wingate freshman keeper Pablo Jara. Barton newcomer Rodrigo Neves had a pair of attempts miss the frame, including one that sailed just over the crossbar in the final two minutes of the contest.
BC will face another SAC opponent in its home opener on Saturday, as the Bulldogs will host Catawba College in a 7 p.m. match at the Barton Outdoor Athletics Complex.
