A trio of first half goals provided the difference on a cool and rainy Saturday afternoon as the 14th ranked Barton Community College women's soccer protected home turf in a 4-1 victory over Kansas City Kansas Community College.
Barton stays unbeaten in conference play improving to 3-0 and 7-1 on the year while the Blue Devils drop to 1-2 in league and 2-2-1 on the season. The Cougars will take on its stiffest test of the early conference season on Saturday hosting 12th ranked Cowley College in a 3:00 p.m. kick-off.
The Cougars scored their first three goals in a fifteen minute span, Aya Saiki connecting on the first of her two net shakers with a header to put away Kimberly Guerrerro's cross just 3:35 into the contest.
Nine minutes later Saiki rattled the net again, launching a shot in being rejected by the Blue Devils' Karli Angle but taking the rebound and finding the back of the net for her team second best 10th goal of the year.
Rin Sato moved the lead to three at the 18:57 mark by settling Ivanna Faria's through ball to strike near post for her third of the season.
Barton looked to have the first half shutout in hand but like the men's game held previous, KCK seized a little momentum into the halftime break as Jana Richter executed the rise-n-shine header from Viola Bischoff's corner to slice into the lead with 1:28 remaining.
As rain began to pour with five minutes left of first half action, the conditions carried into second half play as the Cougars were left moving uphill against the elements.
Each team had scoring chances in a more spirited final forty-five minutes, going head to head until four minutes remaining when the Cougars got the back breaker it needed. Held to just one shot through most of the afternoon, Nina Norshie provided the final big play as the nation's leading scorer worked through the traffic from Hinano Nakagawa's corner to head in her 25th goal of the year.
The goal also extended the freshman's scoring streak to eight straight and moved into solo position of the 6th best single season goals scored, breaking the tie held with Theresa Crane's 2008 achievement.
Raianny Lopes moved to 2-0 in goal, protecting the pipes with three denials while getting help from the defense on a first half team save.
Barton Scoring:
3:35: Aya Saiki (9); Assist: Kimberly Guerrero (4)
12:46: Aya Saiki (10)
18:57: Rin Sato (3); Assist: Ivanna Faria (3)
86:03: Nina Norshie (25); Assist: Hinano Nakagawa (5)
Record Book Watch
Nina Norshie
25 Goals
- 6th best single season *3 from Danielle Saucedo (2010) and Yesenia Garcia (2008)
- 10th best career
53 Points
- 10th best single season *4 from Flavia Bernardes (2009)
- 11th best career *8 from Danielle Saucedo (2010)