MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Barton men's soccer team (2-2-1, 1-0) held off Chowan (2-2-1, 0-1-1), 3-2, in a key road contest and the Conference Carolinas opener for the Bulldogs Wednesday evening at the Hawks Athletic Complex.
Barton senior forward
Blake Grove (Newstead, AUSTRALIA) tallied a goal and an assist – including the match-winner just 2:16 into the contest – to lead the visitors to the triumph. Grove scored off a free kick.
The Bulldogs made it a 2-0 score just one minute before intermission when sophomore forward
Sterling Diaz (Miami, Fla.) found the back of the net. Grove was credited with the assist after feeding a pass down the middle of the field to a streaking Diaz.
Barton junior
Kai Thurston (Harleston, ENGLAND) rounded out the scoring for the Bulldogs in the 51st minute before the Hawks' late charge.
Cameron Letterlough (Asheboro, N.C.) and Jamie Moore (Sheffield, ENGLAND) scored for Chowan to cut the margin to one goal but the Bulldogs were able to hang on thanks to senior goalkeeper
Alejandro Sepulveda (Cali, COLOMBIA). Sepulveda earned the win after tallying 10 saves on the night.
Lucas Kibrya (Birmingham, ENGLAND) made three saves but suffered the loss for Chowan, who held a 33-6 edge in shots taken despite the setback.
Barton returns home after a three-match road stand to host Shorter on Saturday at 2:30 p.m., in league action while Chowan takes on Young Harris on the road Saturday at 1:30 p.m., in Young Harris, Ga.
