Returning to the pitch for the first time in two weeks, the Barton Community College women's soccer team built a two-goal first-half advantage Wednesday morning but was unable to make it stand, settling for a 2-2 draw with Hutchinson Community College at the Cougar Soccer Complex.
The Cougars capitalized on a pair of first-half penalty kicks to carry the two-goal cushion into the break before the Blue Dragons flipped the script over the final 45 minutes, striking in the 50th and 71st minutes to force the conference-opening draw.
The draw moves Barton to 2-0-2 on the season, while Hutchinson sits at 1-3-1 overall. The Cougars will return to the road Saturday for a 10:00 a.m. kickoff at Garden City Community College.
The Blue Dragons generated the early pressure with the wind at their backs, with Lucie Gillig turning away three attempts on frame over the opening eight minutes before the Cougars capitalized on their first opportunity. Ana Luiza Gori carried the ball into the box before being taken down from behind by Ana Luisa Lopes, setting up Maki Kimura's penalty kick conversion in the 10th minute for her second goal of the season.
Barton doubled the advantage in the 32nd minute with Gwladys Dumont playing a long ball behind the Blue Dragon backline to spring Ella Swift into a one-on-one opportunity. Hutchinson goalkeeper Hanna Helshani took Swift down inside the box, setting up Dumont's penalty kick conversion for her first collegiate goal and a 2-0 Cougar advantage.
With Barton gaining the wind advantage and rain beginning to fall after the break, Hutchinson wasted little time cutting into the deficit. Poppy Smith's through ball behind the Cougar backline found an unmarked Olivia Tamaki, who delivered a far-post strike in the 50th minute to trim Barton's advantage to 2-1.
The Blue Dragons continued applying pressure before finding the equalizer in the 71st minute. Isabell Van Fleet's ball into the box found an unmarked Ariadna Zwenger in front of net, with the freshman delivering a right-footed touch into the open net to even things at 2-2.
Barton withstood Hutchinson's late scoring chance in the 79th minute as Van Fleet's attempt became the third Blue Dragon shot to doink off the post before Gillig turned away Tamaki's ensuing rebound shot to keep the match level. The Cougars generated a pair of late opportunities of their own, but attempts from Juilette Rouchon and Mikka Kolle sailed off target as the 2-2 score held through the final horn.
Barton made the most of its limited offensive opportunities, scoring twice on seven total shots while placing three on frame. Hutchinson finished with a 22-7 advantage in attempts and an 8-3 edge in shots on goal, with Gillig recording six saves between the pipes.
BARTON SCORING SUMMARY
9:20: Maki Kimura (2) Penalty Kick
31:15: Gwladys Dumont (1) Penalty Kick