WILSON, N.C. – The Catawba men's soccer team continued its strong start to the season by blanking Barton, 3-0 on the road Wednesday night behind a second-half surge. The Catawba Indians extend their win streak to three matches and remain unbeaten.
Sophomore midfielder Alex Payton found the back of the net, marking his third goal during the win streak. Breno Andreucci also recorded his second straight game with a goal. Diogo Gimenez put in his first goal with the blue and white. Luis Rodrigues was a playmaker, adding an assist. Goalkeeper Héctor Vara delivered another clean sheet, tallying a season-high four saves.
Catawba (3-0-1, 1-0-0 SAC) outshot Barton (1-3-0, 0-1-0 CC) 18-8, registering 12 in the second half. Corners were even at two apiece. The blue and white received four yellow cards while the Bulldogs were given three.
Barton delivered the first shots on goal in the 12th and 36th minutes, but Vara calmly saved both. Giovanni Massacesi recorded Catawba's lone first-half shot on goal in the 40th minute, but to no avail, as both teams went to halftime scoreless.
The scoreless tie was broken in the 61st minute after a crossing pass was headed backwards by a Barton defender, over the goalkeeper's head and off the crossbar, where Payton was right there to put it in the net.
Catawba struck again in the 70th minute when Rodrigues fired a shot on goal that was saved, then quickly rebounded by Rodrigues before centering a perfect pass to Andreucci, who chipped it in for the goal.
Rodrigues caused more havoc by stealing possession from a Bulldog and centering the ball, which was then misplayed by the Barton defender. Gimenez would then scoop it up, make a smooth move to his left and put it past the keeper in the 80th minute to give Catawba the 3-0 victory.
Catawba will come back home to Frock Field on Saturday, September 12th, when it hosts South Atlantic Conference foe Mars Hill at 5 p.m.
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