Berry's Weeks, Wartner Score in 2-0 Senior Day Win

By Matthew D. Stokes
BerryVikings.com Staff Writer

It was only fitting that a pair of seniors would give Berry's men's soccer team a 2-0 victory over Bryan College on Senior Day Saturday at Ford Field.

The Vikings took advantage of Bryan goalkeeper Joe Courtright in the 11th minute. Daniel Wartner took a shot from about 30 yards out, and Courtright leapt to block the shot, which nailed the top of the goalpost. With Courtright on the ground, the goal was left unattended, and Berry's Steven Weeks took advantage, heading the loose ball into the net 10:23 into the match, his second goal of the season.

"Once it hit the bar, I think everybody stopped – except Steven," Vikings head coach Richard Vardy said. "He reacted quickly."

With less than 10 minutes remaining in the first half, Bryan's Rasheed Malcolm was given a red card for a foul on Berry's Christian Fulbright, forcing the Lions to play a man down for the remainder of the match.

"Even without the card I think we were playing well at that point," Vardy said. "The momentum from our past two victories carried over to this game."

The score remained 1-0 through halftime, and the Vikings struck again less than 10 minutes into the second half, when Christian Fulbright passed the ball to a wide open Wartner, who finished the play for his third score of the year.

"It was great, great work by Fulbright," Vardy said. "It was nice to give Daniel a goal on Senior Day."

Berry outshot Bryan on the day, 15-7. The Vikings also claimed the lead for shots on goal, 4-3.
Wartner and Weeks finished with three shots apiece. Gustavo Angel and Andrew Knighten each had two shots for Bryan.

Berry keeper Kevin Madigan had three saves while Bryan's Courtright had four.

Berry will complete its four-match homestand next Saturday when it hosts Tennessee Wesleyan at Ford Field, 1 p.m.

- BerryVikings.com -