Graduate glance -- Summers coming through for Barton soccer

By Gabe Whisnant
Published in Sports on October 19, 2004 1:56 PM

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WILSON -- In just his sophomore season on the Barton College mens soccer team, Eastern Wayne graduate Scott Summers is developing a reputation for being a clutch performer for the Bulldogs.

Summers posted the first goal of the match in two Barton wins in Carolinas/Virginia Athletic Conference play two weeks ago -- scoring two minutes into a Sept. 29 match at home against Pfeiffer. He also had an assist in the game against the Falcons as Barton won 4-2.

Three days later, Summers scored the game-winning goal at Limestone in the 60th minute as Barton held on for a 1-0 win.

The feats didn't go unnoticed.

The speedy forward was named the CVAC Player of the Week following those two games.

"It felt awesome. I couldn't believe I got it," Summers said of the award. "It feels good to get something like that in college."

For the season, the sophomore has three goals and two assists and is Barton's second leading scorer behind freshman Chris Zok.

"He's played very well to this point. He's scored three goals and two assists in 11 games, but he has been tremendously dangerous getting through and behind defenses," veteran Barton coach Gary Hall said. "Every one of his goals and assists have came at key times."

As a freshman, Summers was hampered by chronic muscle tightness in his quadracepts and hamstrings. Hall and Summers believe the problem impacted him much more last season than it has this season.

"I feel a lot better since I don't have my hamstring problems anymore," Summers said. "I'm wearing two compression shorts to help with it."

Not only have his injuries improved, Hall believes the forward has improved several elements of his game over the offseason.

"The thing he is doing much better as a sophomore is being more decisive in beating opponents and going directly to goal ... getting his shot off quicker," Hall said. "Last year, he beat people but didn't collect himself to shoot the ball quickly.

"He's also much better at coming back and tracking down opposing defenders and midfielders and helping us from a defensive standpoint."

Summers chalks the latter improvement up to endurance. He ran the 12-minute mile in two minutes this year and is one of only five Barton players which can boast of that achievement.

Hall was also quick to point out that Summers is one of the more exciting players with the ball on his team.

"It's amazing to see how excited his teamamates on the bench get when he's got the ball. They are anticipating something spectacular to happen," he said. "He gives us a dimension in his attack with the ability to beat people with the ball on his feet that you dont' see a lot at the Division II level."

Barton (5-6-1 overall) is currently 4-3-1 in the CVAC. The Bulldogs have won their last three conference matches with two regular season contests remaining. Barton faces N.C. Wesleyan in a non-conference tilt today.

Davis top 10

in tackles for UNC

Southern Wayne graduate and University of North Carolina defensive end Tommy Davis is currently tied for seventh in tackles for the Tar Heel defense.

Davis has 24 total tackles with eight solo tackles and 16 assists. He currently leads the team in tackles for losses with four and quarteback hurries (four). Davis also has one sack.