By BRANDON SMITH
Barton Sports Info
An ensuing goal just 43-seconds after taking a brief lead Tuesday afternoon would spoil the result the 20th ranked Barton Community men's soccer team was look for as the Cougars settled for a 2-2 draw against Otero Community College.
The result leaves the Cougars 8-3-1 overall while the Rattlers move to 4-1-4 on the season after the opening day of the Barton Classic.
Barton will have a day of rest before concluding the midseason Barton Classic Thursday morning at 10:00 a.m. against top-ranked Indian Hills, as the Warriors take the pitch for the first time as the nation's top team Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m. against Otero.
An unlucky ball deflection grazing off the hand of a Cougar defenseman inside the box gifted Otero a 1-0 lead following a converted penalty kick just 4:14 into the contest.
Launching four of their eight first half shots in the final 9:06, Barton carried the momentum breaking through with the equalizer 5:50 into the final frame on Diogo Giminez' friendly far post kiss into the net on Joaquin Pico Abedul's through ball sent into the box coming off Lucas Dos Santos initial kicked out pass.
17-minutes later Giminez struck for his second of the game and fourth of the season coming unmarked in the box heading back Maxence Voinier's initial shot attempt saved springing off the crossbar.
The lead held for just 43-seconds with the Rattlers getting behind the Cougar defense with Juan Belio sending a through ball to the top of the box creating a 1v1 strike for Deanroy Phillip to register the equalizer.
Emil Ludemann-Ravit patrolled the pipes denying five of the seven shots faced while moving to 3-1-1 in goal.