Spending much of last season in the national polls, the 2014 version of the Barton Community College women's soccer team looks to get over the hump after ending the season for the second straight year in the Region VI semifinals. The first test will come against Western Wyoming Community College as the Lady Cougars begin the season on Friday in a 4:00 p.m. contest at the Cougar Soccer/Track Complex.
Picked to finish fourth in the preseason KJCCC coaches poll, this year's Lady Cougars will have a new look with thirteen first-year players joining five returners from last year's 13-4-1 squad.
Headlining the list of returners are All-KJCCC selections Millie York and Ronnie Johnson. Earning first team honors, York returns for her second season with Barton to lead the back line. The Hove, England, native brought a high level of technical ability and toughness while playing multiple positions throughout the season displaying her multi-dimensional level. Also playing multiple positions, Johnson showed ability to both defend and attack on the offensive end as the Midwest City, Oklahoma, native scored three goals and recorded two game winning plays. The Wichita duo of Aliya Marshall and Catlin Simon-Mans will both provide speed and technical ability on the front line, while Kacee Walsh will look to protect goal as the Cheyenne, Wyoming, native gained valuable experience in a part-time role last season. Not participating last season but familiar with Barton, sophomore Bre Markham will be competing in her first season of collegiate competition after sitting out her freshman season.
Eight Kansas players fill the incoming class of Lady Cougars in what has third-year Head Coach Aaron Avila excited for the season.
"I am very excited about this incoming class," said Avila. "This class has the potential to be one of the strongest Kansas freshman classes to come through our women's soccer program."
Avila has able to pluck some of the best players around the state coming from southwest Kansas through the Wichita area extending up to Topeka. Maria Rodriguez and Evelyn Rodriguez-Lerma hail from Garden City while nearby Dodge City product Scarlett Real completes the southwest invasion. Coming out of the Wichita district is South's Maria-Elena Garcia while Sydne Harpenau from Goddard is joined by Carissa Butler of Goddard Eisenhower. Reaching into the northeast section of the state, Avila was able to attract the Topeka duo of Linsay Dunekack and Maria Munoz.
As in past seasons, Utah has been a successful place for Avila as this year's incoming class features four young ladies from Salt Lake City in West's Hannah Arthur, Olympus' Eliza Larsen, and the Kearns duo of Dania Rodriguez and McKenzi Kane.
Stretching outside the American borders, Lisa Lagos of Honduras, Spain's Ana Salvador, and England's Danielle Borelli are each expected to fill critical roles for the 2014 squad.
Following Friday's contest, Barton will travel on Saturday to take on Bethel College in a scrimmage match then will embark on a mid-week non-conference match at Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa. The Lady Cougars return to friendly turf for a week-end classic August 30 against Western Nebraska Community College and Trinidad State Junior College the following day.