Wilson, N.C. – The Lenoir-Rhyne University Men’s Soccer Team (1-1) picked up its first win of the 2009 season with a 2-0 victory over Barton College (1-2) Thursday afternoon in Wilson, N.C.

Bear sophomore forward Brendan Howard (Tampa, Fla.) assisted on both goals while Tom Gott picked up his first win as L-R Head Coach.

The game was scoreless until the 72:37 mark of the second half when junior defender Kyle Winterbottom (Rochdale, ENGLAND) scored off a deflected shot by Howard.  Howard’s shot came off a blocked free kick by senior midfielder Gary Higgins (Paisley, SCOTLAND) as the Bears tallied three shots on goal within a matter of seconds.  Higgins was also credited with an assist.

L-R iced the game in the 88th minute when junior forward Dave Bailey (Bath, ENGLAND) finished a point-blank shot on a serve by Howard.

In goal, senior Francisco Banuelos (Guadalajara, MEXICO) picked up the shutout win after tallying five saves for Lenoir-Rhyne while Barton’s Brian Riesenberg (Fort Thomas, Ky.) suffered the loss despite stopping three shots.

Lenoir-Rhyne next faces King College on Saturday beginning at 3 p.m., in Bristol, Tenn.