DAHLONEGA — Two second half goals within a two minute span got Thursday night's standing room only crowd rowdy but it ultimately wouldn't be enough for the University of North Georgia men's soccer team to pull off an opening night win as Barry took the first game of the season, 4-2.
The Buccaneers got on the board first with the only goal of the first half as Hanno Antoni scored the first goal of the season for Barry on a quick sliding shot just over the reach of UNG keeper Michael Samnik.
Antoni found the back of the net once again in the 51st minute taking advantage of a Nighthawk mistake in the box to give Barry a 2-0 lead.
UNG got a shot of life just eight minutes later with a foul in the box made by the Bucs that gave way to a Jarrod Smalley penalty kick. Smalley's hard shot to the left side was blocked but not controlled by Barry keeper Bo Haug and Smalley was quick to knock in the deflected shot for the first goal of the Nighthawk season.
Jordan Day electrified the crowd just moments later as he connected perfectly on a free kick from 25 yards out taking advantage of another Barry foul, giving UNG the equalizer.
Thomas Coombes ended the Nighthawk fun in the 64th as he found an open shot off a great ball from Antoni to put Barry back on top, 3-2.
As UNG pressed in the closing minutes trying to find an equalizer to force extra time, the Bucs put the game out of reach with a final blow in the 90th from Ivan Arenas.
