An early advantage and pair of second-half tallies propelled the Barton Community College women's soccer team to its first Jayhawk Conference victory of the season Wednesday afternoon, blanking Garden City Community College 3-0 at the Cougar Soccer Complex.
The victory improves Barton to 1-3-5 in conference play and 3-3-6 overall while Garden City drops to 1-6-2 in league action and 7-6-2 on the season. The Cougars return to the road Saturday, traveling to southeastern Kansas for a 12:00 p.m. conference rematch at Coffeyville Community College after the two squads battled to a 2-2 draw earlier this season in Great Bend.
Barton wasted little time getting on the board, striking in the 10th minute as Ana Luiza Gori slipped a through ball behind the Garden City backline, finding Ella Swift who converted the one-on-one opportunity for her sixth goal of the season to stake the Cougars to an early 1-0 advantage.
Garden City threatened to find the equalizer late in the opening half, generating three shots on frame over a span of 2:10, but Lucie Gillig turned away each Broncbuster attempt to preserve Barton's 1-0 advantage heading into the break.
The momentum stayed with the Broncbusters out of the break, rattling the crossbar twice in the opening 11 minutes of the second half, but the Cougars weathered the threats before doubling their advantage in the 61st minute. Luiza Gori delivered her second assist of the afternoon, slipping a through ball just outside the six-yard box to a charging Mikka Kolle, who finished with an eight-yard strike to the far post for her second goal of the season.
Barton put the finishing touches on the victory in the 86th minute as Maki Kimura's corner kick into the six-yard box was knocked away by Garden City goalkeeper Millie D'Ath, only to deflect off a Broncbuster defender and into the net for an own goal, extending the Cougars' advantage to 3-0.
By the Numbers
Both squads finished with 11 shots, but Barton held a 7-4 advantage in attempts on frame. Swift paced the Cougar attack with three shots, placing two on target, while Kolle and Ana Clara Paltanin each added two attempts. Gillio turned away all four Broncbuster shots on frame to secure her first shutout of the season and the team's second.
BARTON SCORING SUMMARY
9:08: Ella Swift (6); Assist: Ana Luiza Gori (2)
60:55: Mikka Kolle (2); Assist: Ana Luiza Gori (3)
85:17: Own Goal