In a highly anticipated clash of national top-five programs, the 4th-ranked Barton Community College men’s soccer team was unable to overcome an efficient Cowley College attack Saturday afternoon, falling 3-0 in the Region 6/Plains District Championship held at Kansas City Kansas Community College.
The Cougars, winners of ten straight and unbeaten in their last twelve entering the final, fell behind early on a 13th-minute strike and were unable to capitalize on limited scoring opportunities. Cowley doubled its margin midway through the second half before tacking on a final goal two minutes later to secure the title and an automatic berth to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament, November 16–22 in Daytona, Florida.
With the loss, Barton moves to 16-4-2 on the season and must now await Tuesday’s national at-large announcement to learn if its postseason run will continue. Cowley improved to 14-1-1 while taking two of the three meetings between the programs this year.
Barton was held scoreless for just the second time this season — the first since an August 30 setback at then-No. 1 Iowa Western — ending an 18-match stretch of finding the back of the net. The Cougars were outshot 20-8, including 14-4 on frame, with Lucas Meibom‘s two attempts joined by Jaiko Miguelez and Kotaro Kimura as Barton’s only efforts on target.
In goal, Gabriel Bergamin registered 10 saves across 80 minutes of action, while Keagan Lewis played the final ten minutes as the Cougars emptied their bench liberally over the closing stretch.
