WILSON, NC – After Francis Marion University got to within one goal early in the second half, Barton College held the Patriots scoreless over the final 39 minutes to claim a 3-2 non-conference win, Wednesday night (Sept. 5).

The Patriots slipped to 1-4 with their third one-goal loss of the young season. FMU will play at Wingate University on Wednesday at 8 p.m. Barton improves to 2-2.

Barton freshman forward Fernando Guzman netted one goal and one assist to lead the Bulldogs of first-year head coach Matt Akins. The Bulldogs began the night by striking quickly.  Freshman midfielder Matthew Burleson scored off a deflected shot taken by sophomore Harris Smith just two minutes into the match.

FMU tied the score at 1-1 in the 14th minute when freshman Juan Rivas bent a shot in from the right corner of the 18. It was the young forward’s fifth goal in the last four matches.

Two minutes later, the Bulldogs pulled ahead 2-1 when Hector Bermudez took a through pass from Guzman and scored.   Thirty-eight seconds into the second stanza, Guzman made it 3-1 off a free kick.

Francis Marion trimmed the margin to 3-2 at 50:51 when Chris Adrian crossed the ball to freshman Ivan Juric, who found the back of the net for the first time as a collegian.

Both teams fired 13 shots, including five on-goal efforts apiece.  Patriot goalie Jeremy Crooks collected two saves in 65 minutes, before yielding the net-minding to Nick Krywyj. Matt Coble notched three saves for the Bulldogs.