Defense holds firm for second straight shutout, Cougar soccer breaks through for late goals in victory

Saturday at the Cougar Soccer Complex it was a matter of time until the offense rattled the nets.  Until then, the defense recorded its second straight clean sheet and sixth of the season helping to lift the Barton Community College men's soccer team to a 2-0 victory over Coffeyville Community College.  The win keeps the Cougars tied for second place in the conference improving to 7-2 and 13-2 on the season while the Ravens end their season at 1-8-1 in Jayhawk play and 5-11-1 overall.  Receiving votes in the national poll and having locked up a first round home playoff game, Barton travels to Kansas City Kansas Community College on Monday, October 26, for a 6:00 p.m. kick to wrap up the regular season.

Coming off a three shot defensive effort Tuesday against MCC-Maple Woods, the Cougar defensive line captained by Jamie Cox and goalkeeper Bruce Turner once again put together a stellar effort limiting the Ravens to only five shots in the game. As both goalkeepers played impressively in goal, Turner made a spectacular one-handed deflection with thirty-four minutes left helping to keep the Ravens off the scoreboard.

The Barton offense was nearly as impressive launching a twenty-two shot attack including eleven on frame but couldn't find the back of the net until the final thirteen minutes.

Barton had a man advantage with forty minutes remaining due to a second yellow card violation then added another man advantage for another second yellow card forcing Coffeyville to play two men down for the final thirty one minutes.  

It would take the Cougars eighteen more minutes with the two man advantage to break the scoreless tie due in part to Coffeyville goalkeeper Igor Luczensky making tremendous countless saves.

Renan Sousa was able to finally beat Luczensky with 12:56 to play as the sophomore pinpointed the lower 90 near post from Luiz Pereira for his team leading 14th goal.   Pereira, whose second assist of the season led to the game winner, sent a rocket to the top 90 for his second net rattler of his freshman season earning Vinicius Monteiro's first collegiate assist giving the Cougars a late insurance goal with 1:45 to play.