By TODD MOORE
Barton Sports Info
A pair of late goals provided the difference makers Thursday morning at the Cougar Soccer Complex sending the 20th ranked Barton Community men's soccer team to a 3-2 defeat hosting top ranked Indian Hills Community College.
With a 15mph south wind to their backs, Barton's two goal edge by the 29th minute was erased on a pair of Warrior goals including a set piece net rattler with six seconds left tying it up at halftime.
Absorbing Indian Hills' wind advantage to start the second half, Barton controlled most of the final forty-five minutes of possessions but drew the unlucky end of two potential penalty-kick opportunities keeping the game tied until another unfortunate situation eliminated a Barton defender resulting in a Warrior game winning strike with just 1:22 left in the contest.
The loss drops Barton to 8-4-1 overall with Indian Hills improving to 11-0-1.
Barton has a short turnaround to erase the disappointing loss as the Cougars travel to Coffeyville Community College on Saturday for a 7:00 p.m. conference kick-off before a Monday trip to Council Bluffs, Iowa, in a 7:30 p.m. kick at 6th ranked Iowa Western Community College.
Pedro Lyra's third goal of the season gave Barton the lead sending Loic Kanku's pass to the back of the net on an 18-yard missile far post twenty minutes into the contest.
Eight minutes later Kanku forced a turnover around the midfield setting off a give-n-go situation with Joaquin Pico Abedul. As the defense closed in, Abedul dished back to Kanku for an angled strike to far post as the sophomore's fifth goal of the year put the Cougars up two.
The good vibes lasted for less than five minutes when Diego Lazaro's entry pass deflected off a Cougar with Fabian Arroyo sending a shot past the outstretched Cougar keeper Gabriel Bergamin.
A more devastating blow to the Cougar psychic came with just six seconds left in the opening frame when Daniel Mulero's set piece launch traveled across the box to the awaiting foot of Franceso Nanni for the equalizier.
Both teams launched six shots in first half action, three each on frame, but the Cougars took the final statistical keepings 16-12 heading into the second half wind.
Putting two shots on frame, two controversial non-calls may have turned the tide as a handball wasn't whistled on a shot towards frame while later in the half another Cougar was hit high on a header attempt in crashing to the ground in front of goal.
For Indian Hills the Warriors stood firm from the Cougar attacks before producing the game winner, albeit borderline controversial, on Daniel Mulero's dagger shot with eighty-two seconds remaining.
Bergamin's pair of saves gave Barton a chance in dropping to 5-2-0 on the year while Bernardo Manzano stayed unbeaten at 10-0-1 behind four saves.