WILSON, N.C. – The Barton women's soccer team (0-1, 0-1) fell to Lees-McRae (1-0, 1-0) in the season opener this spring campaign by a 2-1 score Sunday afternoon at the Electric Supply Company Field at Truist Stadium.
The Bobcats' Pali Smith (Asheville, N.C.) scored both goals for the visitors including the match-winner on a penalty kick at the 25:31 mark of the first half.
After Smith scored her second goal in the 55th minute, the Bulldogs responded with a score by senior forward
Olivia Bronson (Gaithersburg, Md.) just over a minute later to cut the margin in half but Lees-McRae was able to hold on for the win. Bronson scored off a pass across the top of the box – right to left – from junior midfielder
Sarah Kaempfe (Augsburg, GERMANY).
Barton lost despite holding a 22-12 advantage in shots taken. In goal, Lees-McRae's Hope Sanborn (Monroe, N.C.) earned the victory after stopping six shots while junior
Kristin Davis (Fuquay-Varina, N.C.) suffered the loss for the Bulldogs despite eight saves.
Barton returns to the field to take on Emmanuel (Ga.) on Sunday, February 28, in Franklin Springs, Ga., while Lees-McRae faces Erskine on Sunday, March 7, beginning at 1:00 p.m., in Due West, S.C.
