Rocky Mount, N.C. - The men's soccer team of North Carolina Wesleyan opened its 2012 season on Wednesday afternoon, turning in a 2-1 victory over Guilford College at Scalf Field. Freshman Andri Bjarnason assisted on both goals, while getting off five shots-on-goal of his own.
Bjarnason's first helper came in just the 18th minute when he beat GC keeper Michael MacVane and delivered a perfect cross to Chris Boakye, who booted home the one-timer. NCWC's would take its 1-0 lead into intermission.
MacVane proceeded to keep his team in the contest by making three of his seven saves inside the first ten minutes of the second half. Guilford's offense responded with a strong offensive attack and was rewarded with a Matthew Poling score at the 58:02 mark that knotted the score at 1-1.
Nearly 20 minutes later, it was Wesleyan junior Tyler Payne that would net the deciding goal when he received a Bjarnson free kick in the box for the shot at 77:46.
The Battling Bishops out-shot the Quakers by a 19-15 tally on the day, while GC (2-1) held a slim 8-5 advantage in corners. NCWC sophomore goalie Nathan Mangione made four saves en route to the win.
Wesleyan (1-0) returns to action this weeked at Methodist University's Fall Classic. NCWC is set to take on Birmingham Southern on Saturday and Sewanee on Sunday.