The Barton Community College women's soccer team turned a halftime deficit into a statement victory Wednesday afternoon, erupting for four unanswered second half goals to knock off No. 20 Garden City Community College 5-2 at the FHSU Soccer Stadium in Hays.
Snapping a three game skid, the Cougars improve to 1-2-0 in conference play and 2-3-0 overall, while the Broncbusters suffer their first blemish, slipping to 2-1-0 in league play and 7-1-1 on the season. Barton will have a quick recovery, returning to action Thursday for a 2:00 p.m. (CT) kick at Lamar Community College before resuming Jayhawk play Sunday at Dodge City Community College
The Cougars wasted little time breaking the ice, as Sara Aguirre opened the scoring in the 10th minute by settling Katie Potter's ball near the top of the area, creating space with two right touches before shaping an upper-90 finish near post.
Garden City responded quickly, benefitting off a pair of Cougar defensive breakdowns. The first miscue came in the 15th minute as an uncleared ball off a free kick fell to an unmarked Frieda Steene. The Broncbusters jumped in front with 4:23 remaining in the opening stanza, as Maddison Foster lofted a 30-yard strike over the out positioned netminder to give Garden City a 2-1 edge at the break.
Regrouping at the break, Barton drew even just six minutes into the second stanza, capitalizing off a Broncbuster miscue as a misdirected clearance deflected back into the net for an own goal.
The Cougars pushed in front for good in the 63rd minute with Maki Kimura converting a penalty kick after her initial free kick deflected off a Broncbuster defenseman's hand inside the box.
Kimura then helped extend the lead 11 minutes later, sending a free kick trickling through traffic to the back post, where Meane Martin Damiao acrobatically flicked in a backward heel finish near post for her first collegiate goal and 4-2 advantage.
Aguirre capped the rally in the 77th minute, settling Kayla Methman's long throw placed into the box, slipping past a defender, and firing a finish though the keeper's legs for her second tally of the day and fourth of the season.
Barton finished with a 12-7 shot advantage, placing 11 on frame while limiting Garden City to just three. Splitting time in goal, Leonie Kerle earned the win in relief, recording one denial in the second half, while Leonie Chambe worked the opening stanza.
BARTON SCORING SUMMARY
9:22: Sara Aguirre (3); Assist: Katie Potter (3)
51:13: Garden City Own Goal (1)
62:26: Maki Kimura (2)
73:29: Meane Martin Damiao (1); Assist: Maki Kimura (1)
76:53: Sara Aguirre (4); Assist: Kayla Methman (2)