The No. 17 ranked Barton Community College women's soccer team advanced to the Region VI semifinals by defeating Neosho County Community College 2-0 Monday at the Cougar Soccer/Track Complex. Defeating the Panthers for the second time this season by identical scores, the Lady Cougars improve to 15-3-1 on the season while ending Neosho's season at 10-7-1. Barton advances to the region semifinals against No. 7 ranked Hutchinson Community College at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Hummer Park in Topeka. Hutchinson earned its semifinal berth with an 11-5 victory Monday against Cloud County Community College to improve to 15-1-0 on the season with its lone loss coming against No. 4 Butler Community College. The Lady Cougars will be seeking its first win over Hutchinson since 2007 and look to avenge a 2-0 defeat to the Dragons at the Cougar Soccer/Track Complex earlier this season.
Having lost to the Lady Cougars earlier in the season, Neosho was the early aggressor and controlled much of the tempo for the first twenty minutes. However a patient Barton offensive attack started chipping away at the Panther defense until twenty-five minutes into the contest when the Lady Cougars broke through with its first goal. Cecileee Horlacher, whose been pushed into field duty due to key offensive injuries for the Lady Cougars instead of her normal goalkeeper position, contributed her second assist of the season as she drew Neosho keeper Haylee Merrill away from goal to open up a lane for Bianca Barron. Barron, who leads the team in goals, beat her Panther defender and delivered a sliding kick past the diving Merrill.
Barton held the 1-0 lead most of the game until Ruth Cazier delivered on thirty yard free kick that ricocheted off a Neosho defender and past Merrill inside the near post. The free kick was set up just seconds prior from Hallie Tasset drawing a foul as she made a move thru the Panther defense.