Coming up short against the nation's top ranked team, the 15th ranked Barton Community College women's soccer team had their season end Tuesday in Evans, Georgia, on a 2-0 pool play loss to top ranked Tyler Junior College
The Cougars, making their first NJCAA National Tournament appearance, was seeded eighth in the field and coming off a 3-0 victory Monday over 12th seeded Motlow State Community College. Returning to Blanchard Woods Park for a cool and light rain filled contest, Barton was looking to avenge an early season 2-1 overtime defeat at Tyler.
The Apaches, who also defeated Motlow by a 3-0 score on Sunday, stood the Cougars' upset bid to win Pool A, advancing to Thursday's semifinals with a 22-0 unblemished record. Barton completes the year 17-4-2 to match the program's second most wins in a season.
Barton outshot Tyler 14-6 including 9-2 in second half play and a 9-4 edge in on-frame targets but couldn't find the net against the stingy Apache defense and keeper Daniella Wilken. The Cougars forced Wilkens into four saves in the first half and five in second half play while Barton's Nia Baker came up with a save in each of the halves.
Tyler produced the game winner 21:36 into the contest, Taylor Conway surviving a battle with a Barton defender at the edge of the eighteen to keep balance enough to strike far post by the narrowness of margins past a sliding Baker.
The Cougars had multiple chances for the equalizer, not only in the first half but in the final forty-five but it just wasn't Barton's day for a big net rattler.
Esalenna Galekhutle put the dagger in Barton's hopes with 9:37 remaining on a beautifully shaped near 30-yard strike to the upper-90.
The season's ending also closes the record book impact from freshmen Nina Norshie as one of the most prolific scorers in program history and Rin Sato amongst the best distributors.
Baker closes out her Barton career with a stellar season at 14-4-2.
Nina Norshie
43 Goals
- 2nd best single season, *15 from Shala Giardini's 58 (2009)
- 4th best career, *6 shy of Yesenia Garcia's 49 (2007-2008)
94 Points
- 3rd best single season, *7 shy of Rayssa Neres' 101 (2018)
- 7th best career, *7 shy of Rayssa Neres' 101 (2018)
Rin Sato
12 Assists
- Tied for 9th best single season, *Tied with Nataleigh Cliff's 12 (2008), 1 shy of Flavia Bernardes' 13 (2008)
- Tied for 11th best career, *Tied with Daniela Paez (2019-2020), Nataleigh Cliff (2008), and Sarah Whiteside (2007-2008), 3 shy of Mariana Poveda