MOUNT OLIVE (Sept. 16) – Sophomore Zachary Applewhite delivered a two-goal performance on Saturday night, as the Trojans posted a 2-0 shutout victory over Barton at Amon Field in Conference Carolinas action.

With the win, the University of Mount Olive men's soccer team improves to 1-3-1 this season with a 1-1 mark in conference play. The Trojans have won nine of the last 10 meetings in the series, including three consecutive shutout wins over the Bulldogs. Meanwhile, Barton drops to 2-3-1 overall behind a 1-1 mark in league action.

Mount Olive managed a pair of attempts in the opening 12-plus minutes of the first half, as senior Greg Boko laced a shot just over the goal before freshman Maken Augustin had a shot saved by the goalkeeper. Barton answered with three shots through the midway points of the first half, as junior goalkeeper Axel Engren tallied two saves. In the closing minutes of the half, the Trojans were awarded a penalty kick following a takedown in the box in the 41st minute. Applewhite stepped to the spot and had his initial shot stopped by the goalie before scoring a goal on the follow-up to take a 1-0 advantage.

Barton was determined to find an equalizer early in the second half but was unable to find the net on two corner kick opportunities. The match was nearly tied at the 74:37 mark before a team save in front of the net by sophomore Jacques Sousa kept UMO in the lead. In the 84th minute, the Trojans quickly got onto the counterattack led by junior Christen Lugo-Elibox before Applewhite received the pass and beat the goalkeeper to take a 2-0 lead.

Engren kept the clean sheet and earned the shutout win behind four saves in 90 minutes in goal.

The Bulldogs finished with a 10-9 lead in shots and both teams totaled five shots on goal, while Barton held a significant 10-4 edge in corner kicks.

Mount Olive returns to action on Tuesday, Sept. 19, when it hosts Francis Marion in Conference Carolinas play, starting at 7 p.m.