The Barton Community College women's soccer team has been selected to finish fourth in the 2025 Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, announced Tuesday by the league.
Coming off a 9-6-4 overall record and a 7-5-4 mark in conference play, the Cougars placed fifth in the final 2024 KJCCC standings. Barton's postseason bid was cut short in the opening round of the Region 6 Tournament, falling to eventual Region 6/Plains District Champion Cowley College.
Despite graduating a handful of key contributors from last year's squad, the Cougars return a seasoned core poised to elevate the program. Head Coach Rafael Simmons, now in his second season guiding the women's squad, will rely on returning leaders Candice Burnier (defender), Sara Aguirre Lancheros (midfielder), and Katie Potter (forward) to anchor the lineup on the pitch.
We lost some-high caliber players from last season, no doubt." Simmons said, "But the returns have stepped up from day one of preseason. Their understanding of our system and leadership, is going to be the foundation of what we build this year."
Defending Region 6 champion No. 7 Cowley College earned the top spot in the preseason poll. No. 15 Hutchinson was slotted second, followed by No. 11 Butler, last year's conference runner-up. Dodge City came in just behind Barton in fifth, with Garden City, Coffeyville and Seward County rounding out the rankings.
The 2025 season officially kicks off on August 23 against Western Iowa Tech. Due to ongoing facility renovations at the Cougar Soccer Complex, a site announcement will be made at a later date. Conference play begins on September 10 with a road contest at Seward County Community College.
Postseason play is scheduled to start November 1 with first-round matchups hosted by the higher seeds. The Region 6 Semifinals and Championship will be held November 5 and 8, respectively.
The Region 6/Plains District champion will earn an automatic berth to the NJCAA Division I Women's Soccer National Championship, slated for November 16-22 at the Advance Soccer Complex in Enid, Oklahoma.
2025 KJCCC Division I WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL
1. No. 7 Cowley
2. No. 15 Hutchinson
3. No. 11 Butler
4. Barton
5. Dodge City
6. Garden City
7. Coffeyville
8. Seward County