Ten members of the 5th ranked Barton Community College men's soccer team earned All-KJCCC/Region 6 post-season recognition following the conclusion of the 2023 season.
The Cougars brought home two of the three major awards, Head Coach Rafael Simmons named the Coach of the Year with sophomore forward Lucas Constante tabbed the Offensive Player of the Year.
Barton placed six total players on the first team, Constante being joined by defensemen Henrique Cruz and Kimito Fritz, fellow forward Loic Kanku, and midfielders Augusto Militao and Nicolas Galanis. Forward Maxence Voinier and goalkeeper Dennis Bottcher were selected to the second team with defender Lucas Dos Santos and midfielder Diego Sano landing on the honorable mention list.
In addition to the KJCCC/Region 6 honors, Voinier made an impression on the national stage in being named to the twelve man 2023 NJCAA Championship All-Tournament team.
Complete list of 2023 All-KJCCC/Region 6 Division I Post-Season Selections
Rafael Simmons – Coach of the Year
Two years at the Cougar helm and two Conference Coach of the Year honors on the mantle for Rafael Simmons.
Picked to finish second in the preseason coaches' poll, Simmons and his Cougars took it heart capturing the program's 12th league crown with a five-point cushion finishing 9-1-2 in conference.
Simmons squad built the points cushion behind a 13-match unbeaten streak to open the season including eight straight in KJCCC play.
Falling in the Region/Plains District title game, Simmons' club received an at-large bid to the NJCAA Championship Tournament to make the sixth appearance in program history. The season would end in an additional mini pool-play contest at the tournament, closing up the season at 18-4-4 for the second most victories since the 2018 national runner-up team and sixth most program wins in a single season.
Lucas Constante – Offensive Player of the Year, 1st Team
A sophomore forward from Jaragua do sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil, Constante was an offensive nightmare for opponents all season long.
Constante's 19 goals delivered led the league and ranked second amongst all scorers in the nation while also leading the conference with 44 points to rank third on the NJCAA season leader list.
The striker distributed a marker in 8 of the 12 conference games including a seven-match goal streak which featured two games with multiple goals of two and three.
Finishing the season ranked inside Barton's single season record books with the 7th most goals delivered and 9th most points accumulated, Constante concluded his two-year career in the blue and black with the 9th most goals produced (24) and 12th most points accrued (54).
Loic Kanku – 1st Team
A freshman forward out of Brussels, Belgium, Kanku had an all-around solid first season producing six goals, seven assists and 19 points in 24 games played.
Kanku made his presence known in his collegiate debut producing the game-winning goal in Barton's conference opening 2-1 victory over Dodge City. Sharing team leading assist honors with Cruz, Kanku formed a trio of his assists and a goal for a career high 5-point performance in Barton's 4-3 win at Seward County.
Augusto Militao – 1st Team
Appearing in all twenty-six games, the sophomore from Sao Paulo, Brazil was the mainstay midfielder for the Cougars fabricating a trio of net shakers and distributing four assists while being a key force in Barton's set pieces.
Nicolas Galanis – 1st Team
The sophomore from Dilbeek, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium, fulfilled big shoes on the offensive side for Barton finishing second on the team in goals furnished and points recorded. Scoring 11 goals on the year as a midfielder, Galanis supplied the biggest net rattler of the season with a walk-off golden goal penalty kick over 2nd ranked Salt Lake Community College to force a rare additional mini-pool play at the National Tournament.
Henrique Cruz – 1st Team
A two-year starter from Sao Paulo, Brazil, Cruz was one of the most physical back-line defenders for the Cougars which posted nine shutouts, held opponents to one or no goals in 19 games played, and surrendered a total of 24 goals in 26 games..
A returning all-honorable mention selection from last year, Cruz was a big part in Barton's regular season sweeping of 11th ranked Cowley as the Cougar defense held the conference's highest offensive team to just two goals in the pair of matchups.
Cruz recorded a trio of goals with his first collegiate goal coming in Barton's 2-2 draw with Coffeyville while sharing top team distribution honors with Kanku with seven assists.
Kimito Fritz – 1st Team
Returning first-team selection from a season ago, the sophomore from Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan, was part of a strong back line for the Cougars. The conference's week Player of the Week had career highs with three goals and three assists from the back line.
For his career, Fritz had three goals and five assists while helping Barton's defense pitch 11 clean sheets.
Also a two-year starter, Fritz was a key component of the Cougars' stingy defense of allowing just 24 goals and nine shutouts.
Maxence Voinier – 2nd Team
The freshman from Caumont-sur-Durance, France, quickly moved into the starting lineup as the forward's offensive creativity with the ball caused havoc for opponents in capping his initial collegiate campaign with 12 points behind 5 goals and a pair of assists.
Netting a pair of game winners on the season, Voiner fabricated one of the Cougars most exciting game winners coming on the road at 13th ranked Otero College. Tied 2-2 with under 20-seconds remaining, Voinier settled a 65-yard pass from Fritz to juke around an Otero defenseman to create a near-post rocket strike just inside the upper-90 with two second remaining.
The freshman was also awarded for his play at the NJCAA National Tournament in being named to the NJCAA All-Tournament team.
Dennis Bottcher – 2nd Team
The sophomore from Solingen, Germany, is a two-time all-conference performer for the Cougars after also garnering second-team honors following his freshman season.
Bottcher protected the pipes for over 1800 minutes this season posting a 14-3-4 record. Denying 56 shot attempts, his 1.12 goals-against average was the 4th best in the KJCCC and 31st best in the country. Bottcher produced three solo shutouts and aided to four other clean sheets.
The netminder finished his season inside Barton's record books with the 11th most denials of 56 in a single season.
Bottcher concluded his two-year career with a 24-8-5 record in net with seven shutouts and rejecting back 107 shots faced on frame.
Lucas Dos Santos – Honorable Mention
The freshman from Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil was solid on the defensive end of the field for the Cougars while adding one goal and two assists.
Facing a must win situation in pool play of the National Tournament and trailing 1-0 in the 85th minute, Dos Santos sparked new life into Barton by heading in a corner kick for the equalizer for his first collegiate goal.
Diego Sano – Honorable Mention
Making an immediate impact at the midfield position, the freshman from Sao Paulo, Brazil, held a vital role in Barton's formations.
Finishing his inaugural season with an assist, more importantly Sano's versatility played a vital role in the Barton's 2-1 OT win over Salt Lake in the National Tournament to keep the season alive by switching to center back to fill the void left from card accumulation suspensions of the Cougars' top defensemen.