Six different players found the back of the net as the No. 3 Barton Community College men's soccer team closed out its regular season Monday afternoon with a 6-0 victory over the Sterling College developmental squad at the Cougar Soccer Complex.
Playing into a steady 15-mph south wind throughout the opening half, the Cougars built a 2-0 halftime advantage before adding four second-half goals with the wind at their backs to complete their ninth clean sheet of the season.
The victory capped a 17-1-1 regular season for Barton, which enters the Region 6/Plains District Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed. The Cougars will open postseason play Sunday, hosting sixth-seeded Dodge City Community College at 1:00 p.m. at the Cougar Soccer Complex.
Barton quickly found the scoreboard in the eighth minute as Pedro Henrique Jonson's long ball connected with Rodrigo De La Cruz, who slipped a pass toward the middle of the box for Tomas Gaspar. The sophomore took a touch before firing a left-footed strike from 14 yards out inside the far post to give the Cougars a 1-0 advantage.
The Cougars doubled their advantage with 7:52 remaining in the opening half as another long ball from Henrique Johnson found Koki Kawai, who delivered a cross toward the back post for Aidan Dunne to head home his third goal of the season, extending the lead to 2-0.
Barton wasted little time capitalizing on the wind at its back, extending the advantage to 3-0 in the 50th minute as Shoma Komata slipped a through ball between the Sterling defenders, finding Vadim Sladkov near the penalty spot for a chip toward the right post and in for his second goal of the season.
Just over five minutes later, Taiki Sano intercepted a Warriors clearing attempt before playing a pass ahead to Komata, who turned and fired a shot inside the far post and underneath the goalkeeper's gloves for his first collegiate goal, extending the Cougars' advantage to 4-0 in the 55th minute.
Komata continued to make his presence felt in the 61st minute, intercepting a Warriors cross-field pass before finding De La Cruz, who carried the ball into the box and converted a one-on-one opportunity for his first collegiate goal, extending Barton's advantage to 5-0.
The Cougars put the finishing touches on the victory in the 72nd minute as Guilherme Leuenroth's free kick found Bruno Passos at the back post for a redirected header into the net, marking his first collegiate goal.
By the Numbers:
Barton controlled the offensive statistics throughout the afternoon, outshooting Sterling 38-1, with the 38 attempts marking a season high. The Cougars also held a 16-1 advantage in shots on goal. Barton generated 15 shots in the opening half before adding 23 after intermission, holding the Warriors without a second-half attempt.
Reece Renteria earned the victory in goal, improving to 2-0-0 on the season after recording one save during the opening 45 minutes. Cooper Shaw took over between the posts for the second half, facing no shots as the duo combined for the shutout.
Game Notes:
- Eighth consecutive game scoring multiple goals and 10th in the last 11 contests
- 10th game this season with four or more goals scored- Extended unbeaten streak to 12 matches
BARTON SCORING SUMMARY
7:38: Tomas Gaspar (1); Assists: Rodrigo De La Cruz (2), Pedro Henrique Jonson (1)
37:08: Aidan Dunne (3); Assist: Koki Kawai (2), Pedro Henrique Jonson (2)
49:06: Vadim Sladkov (2); Assist: Shoma Komata (5)
54:26: Shoma Komata (1); Assist: Taiki Sano (1)
60:39: Rodrigo De La Cruz (1); Assist: Shoma Komata (6)
71:36: Bruno Passos (1); Assist: Guilherme Leuenroth (2)