Late goal prevents victory, Lady Cougars play to draw with Western Nebraska

The Barton Community College women's soccer team came within two minutes of notching their second straight victory having to settle for a 1-1 draw Friday at the Cougar Soccer Complex with their Cougar counterparts of Western Nebraska Community College.  The tie moves the Lady Cougars to 1-1-1 on the season while Western Nebraska stands at 1-1-2 having defeated Jayhawk member Pratt Community College 3-1 on Saturday.  Barton will have a few days rest before getting back to the pitch in preparation for their Jayhawk West opener coming Saturday, September 10, in a 2:00 p.m. kick at Hutchinson Community College.

Analia Torres set Barton up for their lone goal late in the first half knifing a perfectly sent deep free kick through a 20-30mph south wind to an awaiting Megan Martinez in the box.  Settling the pass, Martinez quickly shook off one defender before launching the ball past WNCC goalkeeper Allison Parker giving the Lady Cougars the lead with 12:28 to play.

Flipping ends of the field for second half play, the Lady Cougars attacked the offensive end but failed to convert including best opportunities coming from Brooke Russell's twenty-yard free kick and an Amber Miller cross towards an open backside as Parker came up with big saves.

WNCC didn't get many opportunities in the game but converted when they needed it most as Juliana Stratford made the Cougars pay hammering a non-cleared ball in the box to the top shelf for the equalizer with just 2:11 left on the game clock.

The teams battled through twin ten minutes extra frames with each getting a scoring opportunity but Parker kept the WNCC the net clean while Russell did the same for Barton having been inserted into emergency keeper duties due to a late injury to Alexandra Capalbo.