By Barton Community College Athletics
DODGE CITY, Kan. (BartonSports.com) – A 60-yard goal set the tone of what the day had in store for the 5th ranked Barton Community College men’s soccer team as Dodge City Community College pulled off a big KJCCC season opening victory at Memorial Stadium.
Dodge City’s long distance wind-aided net shaker over the top of a leaping Emil Ludemann-Ravit just six minutes into the contest was one of three glaring defensive miscues committed by the young Cougars while the offense missed countless opportunities leaving Barton on the wrong side of the scoreboard.
Barton falls to 2-1 on the early slate while Dodge City bounces back from a 5-2 defeat to Division II 19th ranked Neosho County in moving to 1-1 on the year.
The Cougars have a short span to lick the wounds before embarking on a three-game home stretch beginning Friday with a 10:00 a.m. kick versus Jefferson College followed by Sunday’s same time kick-off against Trinidad State College. The Cougars then return to conference action to conclude the homestand on Wednesday, September 4, at 1:00 p.m. hosting Coffeyville Community College.
Following Soma Kanazawa’s boot from beyond midfield putting the Conquistadors ahead, Barton outplayed the host but looked to be trailing into halftime until momentum swung seventy-two seconds prior to the horn. Gaining possession deep into Dodge City territory, Nils Knecht triggered a long inbounds throw into the box with a deflection off a Conquistador cleaned up by Gonzalo Bassa‘s fifteen yard missile rattling the net for his first collegiate goal.
Outshooting Dodge City 9-4 and 6-3 on frame in the opening forty-five minutes, both teams exchanged opportunities early in second half play with a Conquistador counter attack at the nine minute mark breaking down the defense leaving a 1v1 situation resulting in Mikel Alvarez giving the home squad the lead back.
Barton had a golden opportunity for the equalizer just two minutes later on an awarded penalty kick but Diogo Dominguez Giminez‘ attempt was blocked leaving the score 2-1 Dodge City.
Down to the final eleven minutes of regulation, Joaquin Pico Abedul created the Cougars’ play of the day providing the equalizer. Pressuring the Conquistadors deep in their defensive corner, Abedul was able to pick the pocket and dribble past two defenders before leaving a short pass for reigning KJCCC Player of the Week Maxence Voinier strike for his third goal of the season.
It took Dodge City just over a minute to pull back ahead and again it was a defensive lapse giving up the eventual game winner. Unable to clear a loose ball, the Conquistador’s Chris Moting was able to slip around a Cougar defenseman on the back side to launch a missile to the net from just eight yards out.
Final stats had Barton ahead 19-15 on total shots and plus-5 towards frame with an 11-2 advantage in corner play opportunities as multiple headers missed its mark for a tally.
