Returning from a week away from competition, the Barton Community College men's soccer team returned to the pitch Sunday scoring three first half goals enroute to a 4-1 victory over Neosho County Community College at the Cougar Soccer Complex. The victory keeps the Cougars tied for first place in the conference at 6-1-0 while improving to 7-1-1 on the season. Neosho County drops to 1-3-1 in conference play and 7-3-1 on the season. Barton will step out of conference play this weekend as the Cougars travel to Dallas, Texas, for two matches against nationally ranked teams before returning home for an October 8 conference game against Independence Community College.
Defender Carter Way set up the first of two Ebu Camara first half goals giving the Cougars a 1-0 lead seventeen minutes into the contest. After a steal and give-and-go with Hector Mata, Way moved up the left side passing to Camara who then warded off two defenders to beat the Neosho keeper. Thirteen minutes later, Camara sent a low cross through the box finding Mariano Gelso whose spectacular sliding left boot top shelf gave Barton a 2-0 lead. With six minutes remaining in the first half, Camara, the reigning KJCCC and NJCAA player of the week, took a Mata long chip pass and raced past two defenders and hurdled a tackle attempt to give the Cougars a 3-0 advantage with six minutes to play in the first half.
Neosho drew first blood in the second half as David Bustos drew the Panthers to within two in the half's first five minutes. Receiving a Diego Benitez half-volley, Busco found himself in a one-on-one situation just outside the 6' to score just inside the far post off the hands of the diving hand of Cougar keeper Mauricio Vargas.
Barton was quick to extend the lead a mere forty-two seconds later as freshman Christopher Hogg scored his first collegiate goal blasting a 90' kick top shelf on the near post giving the Cougars its final 4-1 score.
The Cougars' next two games will come against nationally ranked opponents in this weekend's Richland Classic in Dallas, Texas. Barton opens play Friday at 6:30 p.m. against the host and Division III No. 9 ranked Richland College, who upset Division I top ranked Tyler Junior College 3-1 this past week. After taking Saturday off, the Cougars return for a 12:00 p.m. game against Tyler.