17th ranked Barton Women's Soccer tabbed 4th in KJCCC preseason order of finish #GoBarton
17th ranked Barton Women's Soccer tabbed 4th in KJCCC preseason order of finish
The 17th ranked Barton Community College women's soccer team has been tabbed to finish fourth in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Division I women's soccer preseason order of finish as voted on by the league coaches.
Outperforming their runner-up prediction a season ago, the Cougars clinched their second straight conference title and made their second consecutive national tournament appearance.
Finishing league play with a best record of 12-1-3 and 36 points, the Lady Cougars earned an at-large bid after falling in the Region VI/Plains District title before concluding the season in pool play at the NJCAA National Tournament finishing 14-3-4 overall.
Defending Region 6/Plains District Champion 10th ranked Cowley College was picked to win the conference while 12th ranked Butler and 20th ranked Hutchinson rounded out the projected top-3 order of finishers.
Entering new direction with the program's winningest coach Ousmane Camara leaving after eight seasons for Monroe College, first year head coach Rafael Simmons looks to revamp the squad that lost seven of its' nine postseason honors last season including a pair of All-America selections.
Returning 11 players with just three appearing consistently in the starting lineup a season ago, forward Fiona Jolly and goalkeeper Mio Tanaka highlight the lone postseason award returners each earning all-honorable mention nods. Jolly looks to guide the offense after finding the net five times last year for third most on the club with a pair of assists. Tanaka returns between the pipes looking to build off her solid freshman campaign that featured just two games of allowing two or more goals and helping pitch six shutouts in 21 matches in net.
Simmons will depend heavily on the depth of his squad this season which features 13 newcomers with two-transfers.
The Cougars have one scrimmage remaining next Thursday at Fort Hays State University after playing their first exhibition of the year Wednesday night on the road at Friends University.
Barton's schedule features five preseason ranked teams all within the Jayhawk Conference. The Cougars will be on the road for five of their opening six games with their home opener coming September 4th against Coffeyville following a September 1st trip to 12th ranked Butler.
Closing out the month of September with four of five at home, the Cougars will host 20th ranked Hutchinson on the 14th with a three match homestand coming following a trip to 10th ranked Cowley on the 18th.
Barton will have a busy October with seven games which highlight a trio of ranked opponents hosting Butler to open the month, a mid-month trip to Hutchinson before facing the conference favorite Tigers of Cowley to conclude the home portion of the season on the 19th.
Postseason play begins on November 3rd, in a hopeful first round hosting followed by the final two rounds taking place November 7th and 10th.
The winner of the Region 6/Plains District Championship will move on to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament held November 17th-23rd at Wichita's Stryker Sports Complex.