FLORENCE, S.C. – The Barton men's soccer team (9-2) saw its season come to a tough close with a 1-0 setback to Belmont Abbey (7-8-1) Sunday in the finals of the 2021 Conference Carolinas Championship at the Florence Soccer Complex.
The Crusaders scored the lone goal of the match at the 68:56 mark of the second half when Nathan Deimling (Cold Spring, Ky.) chipped in from the top of the box with the ball bouncing just past the goalkeeper and across the line. Belmont Abbey's Aaron Madison (Statesville, N.C.) was credited with the assist. The Crusaders also avenged an earlier loss to the Bulldogs: 2-1 on Monday, March 8.
Ben Knust (Omaha, Neb.) stopped two shots for the shutout victory in goal for the Crusaders, who held a 9-4 edge in shots taken. Barton sophomore goalkeeper
Jacob Randolph (Metairie, La.) suffered the loss despite allowing just one goal and making three saves.
Randolph's scoreless streak was also snapped at 589:14 minutes while the Bulldogs saw their six-game winning streak come to an end as well.
In addition to Randolph, sophomore defender
Tobias Nielsen (Rask Moelle, DENMARK) and senior defender
Denning Hudson (Wilson, N.C.) earned conference all-tournament honors for Barton.
