A second-half scoring surge proved to be the difference Wednesday afternoon as the Barton Community College women's soccer team struck three times in a span of 7:24 to hold off Western Nebraska Community College 3-2 at the Cougar Soccer Complex.
Following a scoreless opening 45 minutes, the offenses came to life, combining for five goals over a frantic 9:30 stretch early in the second half. Barton struck first before Western Nebraska answered less than two minutes later, but a pair of Cougar goals just 1:45 apart ultimately prove to be the difference.
The victory improves the Cougars to 2-0-1 on the season, while Western Nebraska slips to 1-1-0. Barton will now have a two-week hiatus before opening Jayhawk Conference play September 9, hosting Hutchinson Community College for a 2:00 p.m. kickoff at the Cougar Soccer Complex.
Barton controlled the opportunities throughout the opening 45 minutes but was unable to break through, holding a 9-1 advantage in shots with five placed on frame as the teams entered the halftime break nil-nil.
The scoreless battle finally broke in the 57th minute following a quick reset off a throw-in. Ayaka Nagano slipped a through ball toward Mikka Kolle, whose service across the far side of the box found Ella Swift for a near-post strike from just outside the six-yard box, giving Barton the 1-0 advantage with her third of the season.
Western Nebraska needed just 1:49 to find the equalizer as Lara Santamarta laced a 40-yard free kick into the upper-left 90 in the 59th minute.
Barton quickly regained control with a pair of goals just 1:45 apart. Lilly Brooke-Cousins' free kick to the backside of the 6' found Maki Kimura for her first marker of the season in the 63rd minute before Nagano doubled the advantage in the 65th minute. An uncleared ball found Gwladys Dumont, who quickly slipped a pass to Nagano for a left-footed near-post strike and a 3-1 advantage.
Western Nebraska drew back just 2:06 later, as Baylee Hoskins forced a turnover along the Cougar backline, maneuvered around a pair of defenders and slipped a soft strike into the empty net to trim Barton's advantage to 3-2.
The Cougar defense made the one-goal margin stand over the final 23-plus minutes, with Lucie Gillig turning away Hoskins' final attempt on frame in the 79th minute to help preserve the victory.
Barton finished with a commanding 21-5 advantage in total shots, placing 14 attempts on frame while limiting Western Nebraska to five shots on goal. The Cougars generated 12 of their 21 attempts over the final 45 minutes.
BARTON SCORING SUMMARY:
56:47: Ella Swift (3); Assist: Mikka Kolle (4), Ayaka Nagano (1)
62:26: Maki Kimura (1); Assist: Lilly Brooke-Cousins (2)
64:11: Ayaka Nagano (1); Assist: Gwladys Dumont (2)