The 19th ranked Barton Community College women's soccer team recovered from an early second half goal deficit in rallying for a 2-1 playoff first round victory over Johnson County Community College Monday at the Cougar Soccer Complex.
Barton improves to 13-3-1 on the year, closing out the home campaign at 7-2 in advancing to Thursday's 11:00 a.m. Region VI/Plains District semifinal against 11th ranked Butler Community College at Wichita's Stryker Sports Complex. Johnson County ends the season at 7-7-1.
Following a scoreless first half with the Cougars outshooting Johnson County 7-2 including five shot on frame, it was the Cavaliers putting the first score on the board 1:47 after intermission.
Athena Dericotte launched a 25-yard free kick from near the Cavalier bench, tracking to the upper near post where Cougar net tender Nia Baker rose high to reject the shot creating a loose ball. Beating the Barton defenders crashing towards frame, Riley Porter rose up for a header past Baker for her ninth goal of the season.
Eleven minutes later Annika Gerdau struck for one of her biggest team leading 12 goals on the year, breaking loose after taking defender Mercy Azanapo's through ball to set up inside the eighteen and fire topside far post tying the game. Azanapo set up the play intercepting a Johnson County pass in the Cougar backfield, carrying the ball thirty yards through Cavaliers before dishing off to Gerdau for her first assist of the season.
Twelve more minutes clicked off the clock before Seulgi Lee rocketed a 30-yard free kick, burying the game winner on her ninth net rattler of the year with 19:53 remaining.
Baker and the Cougar defense held steady after surrendering the goal, rejecting the a pair Cavalier attempts on frame. Barton launched 14 shots to Johnson County's five, putting ten on frame in limiting the Cavaliers to just three.
Next up is the Grizzlies who beat the Cougars 3-2 earlier in October on Barton's home turf. The teams also squared off in last season's District Championship as Butler avenged Barton's 4-0 win on the Grizzlies home turf during the regular season with a 3-1 victory when it mattered in qualifying for the national tournament.
