The fourth-ranked Barton Community College men’s soccer team was dealt its first loss of the season Saturday, surrendering a pair of second-half goals in a 3-1 defeat at No. 13 Garden City Community College in the KJCCC opener for both squads.
The loss drops Barton to 6-1 overall while Garden City remains unbeaten at 4-0-2 on the year. The Cougars return home Wednesday for a 1:00 p.m. conference matchup against Coffeyville Community College.
Barton had the first prime opportunity to break the scoreless contest midway through the opening half, but Lucas Meibom‘s penalty kick sailed wide at the 22:33 mark. Garden City eventually broke through with 5:46 remaining in the half as Zian Hamou-Maamar converted a Titouan Oger assist for a 1-0 advantage.
The Cougars needed just 81 seconds to respond as Rafael Calmon set up Shun Imai for the freshman’s fourth goal of the season, sending the teams into halftime locked at 1-all.
Garden City regained the lead just 5:21 into second-half play as Mateo Prigent’s backside header finished Rayane Belhadj’s cross. Barton nearly found another equalizer in the 62nd minute when Luan Sakuramoto‘s header struck the crossbar, but the Broncbusters instead stretched the margin to two just over two minutes later as Hamou-Maamar buried a 12-yard far post strike for his second goal of the afternoon.
Barton continued searching for a way back into the contest, putting three additional shots on frame over the final 17 minutes, including Masaki Tsuji attempts in the 74th minute and at the final horn, but Garden City goalkeeper Nahim Merey turned each away.
By the Numbers
Garden City held a slim 9-8 advantage in total shots with each side placing four on frame, while the Broncbusters generated six corner kicks to Barton’s three. Barton produced six of its eight shots after halftime. Tsuji led the Cougars with two shots, both on frame, while Imai scored on his lone attempt and Kotaro Kimura also placed a shot on target. Pedro Lisboa recorded one save as Garden City converted three of its four shots on goal. The physical conference opener produced 29 combined fouls, with Garden City whistled for 16 and Barton 13.
BARTON SCORING SUMMARY
41:19: Shun Imai (4); Assist: Rafael Calmon (1)
