11th ranked Cougars drop pair to national contenders #GoBarton

The early season gauge on the 11th ranked Barton Community College men's soccer team indicates the Cougars are on a national tournament quality level despite dropping a pair of games this weekend in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Barton led 1-0 over 3rd ranked Iowa Lakes Community College into the 63rd minute but a pair of Laker goals including the game winner coming in the 85th minute handed the Cougars their first loss of the season.

On Saturday, the Cougars took on former Barton head coach Mike Brown and his Iowa Western Community College Reivers. Ranked No. 2 after dropping last year's national championship game 2-1 in overtime, the Reivers took advantage of an uncleared ball in the box to punch it in for a 1-0 lead midway through the first half. Barton found itself not only trailing on the scoreboard heading into second half play, but playing a man down due to a late first half tackle ejection. As both teams braved the 94 degree temperatures, the Reivers gained the breathing room they needed seventeen minutes into the final frame as a quality executed free kick made its way around the Cougars' defensive wall to rattle the net far post.

The Cougars lone scoring on the weekend came in Friday's contest with a pair of freshman recorded collegiate firsts as Rui Aoki headed in Erik Martinez' corner kick putting Barton out front.

Now 2-2 on the season, Barton will have a week away from competition before returning to the pitch on Saturday in the Cougars' conference opener hosting Coffeyville Community College for a 3:00 p.m. kick at the Cougar Soccer Complex.