Second half stumble costs Barton men in upset loss #GoBarton

The Barton Community College men's soccer team stumbled in second half play Wednesday afternoon at the Cougar Soccer Complex giving up two goals in a 2-1 defeat to Dodge City Community College. The conference and region loss drops the No. 16 ranked Cougars to 2-2 and 3-2 with a 7-3 overall record while Dodge City picks up their first conference win improving to 1-3-1 with a 2-3-1 region mark and 5-3-3 on the season. Barton will attempt to avoid another squad picking up their first conference victory coming up on Saturday as the Cougars travel to Pratt Community College (0-2-1, 0-4-1, 0-5-2) for a 4:00 p.m. kick-off.

It took the Cougars less than eight minutes to score as Barton dominated first half action with nine shots while holding the Conquistadors to zero. Finishing with nineteen shots in the game, the Cougars big thorn was accuracy as the Cougars missed countless opportunities yet would only put six on frame in the ninety minutes of play.

Nearly connecting on a free kick deflecting off the near post and off a Conquistador defender, Benjamin Zamora had to settle for his fifth assist of the year sending in the ensuing corner kick where Victor Gonzalez' third goal of the year was headed to the inside of the back post for the Cougars' early lead.

As the Cougars continued to miss opportunities, the Conquistadors slowly started gaining more optimism beginning with registering their first shot coming thirteen minutes into the second half. Although Aries Yeverino's shot was well wide of the goal, the snapping of Barton's 148-plus minute stretch of not allowing a shot was significant as the confident Conquistadors began attacking with four more shots coming in the final thirty-two moments.

Yeverino would play a part in the equalizer sending a through ball to Irwin Rodriguez who found a seam in the crowded box with just under twenty-one minutes to play. Six minutes later the Conquistadors' executed play off a free kick would eventually free up Abel Chevelon in the deep corner as his cross to Johnley Dezile resulted in a blast to mid-net for the 20:57 game winner.