Playing a player down for the final 68-plus minutes Wednesday afternoon in Arkansas City, the Barton Community College women's soccer team's hill proved too tough to climb in a 3-1 loss at No. 7 Cowley College.
Barton slips to 0-2-5 in KJCCC play and 2-2-6 overall while Cowley remains in the conference race at 6-1 and improves to 7-1 on the season. The Cougars continue their challenging stretch Saturday with a 2:00 p.m. kick at third-place Hutchinson Community College.
Barton was forced to play shorthanded beginning with 23:22 remaining in first-half action. An errant pass along the Cougars' defensive line resulted in a turnover, putting defender Analys Silva in a difficult position before being issued a red card for holding a Cowley attacker 25 yards from goal and preventing a breakaway opportunity.
The scoreless contest remained intact for more than 13 minutes following the player advantage before the Tigers broke through with 10:01 remaining in the half. Sarah Eckermann elevated for a header off Pietra Victoria de Souza Paro's corner kick to send Cowley into intermission with a 1-0 advantage.
Aided by a south wind, Cowley controlled much of the opening-half possession with an 11-3 advantage in shots. Graciela Medina helped keep the Cougars within striking distance with six saves while Barton put each of its three attempts on frame.
Cowley doubled its advantage with 30:52 remaining as Eckermann collected a pass just inside the midfield stripe before racing behind the Barton defense and beating second-half goalkeeper Lucie Gillig in a one-on-one situation.
The Tigers' speed again led to their final goal with 12:57 remaining. Sophie Knaab raced around the edge of the Barton defense before carrying into the 18-yard box and blasting a shot to the far post for a 3-0 advantage. The two second-half goals came at the 59:08 and 77:03 marks.
Barton avoided the shutout with 8:20 remaining on an own goal created from Ana Clara Paltanin's corner kick. The service was redirected toward goal before a Cowley defender's attempt to clear the ball instead found the back of the net, snapping the Cougars' three-match scoreless stretch and more than 407 minutes without a goal.
By the Numbers
Cowley finished with a 22-6 advantage in shots, marking the second consecutive match Barton has surrendered 22 or more attempts. The Tigers held a 14-5 edge in shots on goal while generating 10 corner kicks to Barton's two. Medina and Gillig split the 90 minutes in goal, with Medina making six saves on one goal allowed in the opening half before Gillig recorded five saves while allowing two goals over the final 45 minutes. Barton played the final 68:23 with 10 players following Silva's first-half red card.
BARTON SCORING SUMMARY
81:40: Own Goal