The Region VI men's soccer championship trophy returns to Great Bend as the No. 6 ranked Barton Community College men's soccer team defeated Johnson County Community College 2-0 on Sunday at Topeka's Hummer Sports Park. The Cougars' Sam McCrillis scored a goal in each half as the Cougars won its fifth Region VI Championship and third title in the last four years. Under seventh year head coach Oliver Twelvetrees, Barton has won four region titles and is one game away from a return trip to nationals. Next up for the 16-2-1 Cougars will be the Plains District Championship on Saturday, November 3, at an opponent to be named later this week.
McCrillis scored just 9:46 into the contest to give Barton the early lead and eventual game winning goal. Armando Hipolito placed his 40 foot free kick towards goal where David Lazarof tapped to McCrillis who hammered it home past Johnson's goalkeeper Guillermo Aguilar. Riding the lead into intermission, the Cougars controlled tempo and put up eight shots while the defense was stellar limiting the Cavaliers to zero shots.
Playing a more conservative second half, Barton put the icing on the cake as McCrillis beat Aguilar with 15:54 remaining in the contest. Gonzalo Gelso split the Cavalier defense on the left wing and sent a cross through the box to a sprinting McCrillis who was left with a one-on-one situation with Aguilar. The sophomore from Shawnee, Kansas, delivered the knock-out punch and tied freshman Ebu Camara for the team lead in goals scored at 18.