The Barton Community College women's soccer team concluded the regular season Saturday in Goodland with a 5-1 victory at Northwest Kansas Technical College to earn their first Jayhawk West Conference championship since 2008.
The victory was one of two things needing to happen Saturday for Barton to earn just the program's second conference championship as Hutchinson took care of the second part knocking off Cloud County in Concordia 4-3 to trigger a jubilant Cougar sideline 235 miles away.
Barton finished atop the standings at 12-1-1 and 13-3-1 on the year while the Mavericks finish at 3-10-1 and 3-10-2 on the season. The Cougars will next set its attention on post-season as Barton will host first round Region VI action on Thursday. Game time and opponent to be determined.
Larissa Fagundes had a five point afternoon, putting the Cougars on the board 24:21 into the contest putting away a deep left corner cross from Luisa Souza.
Little more than two minutes later Rayssa Neres doubled up Barton's lead as Laura Maria's through ball hit Neres in stride as Barton would eventually go to the break with the two goal lead.
Following the Mavericks cutting the lead in half thirteen minutes into the second frame in converting a penalty kick, Fagundes netted her 15th of the year two minutes later scoring from Neres' 14th assist.
The lead exploded to four in a matter of 106 seconds a Neres rattled the net twice giving the freshman from Brazil her seventh game of three or more goals. Maria helped set up both of the goals, distributing two or more assists for the fifth time this year in raising the freshman's total to twenty and take over the fourth best single season in program history.
Joining Maria in helping Neres to the net shakers, Jacqueline Rodriguez earned her first collegiate assist on Reyes' 68th minute mark goal while Fagundes distributed the 14th of the Brazilian sophomore's season.
Barton Scoring:
24:21 – Larissa Fagundes (14), Assist Luisa Souza (6)
26:31 – Rayssa Neres (37), Assist Laura Maria (18)
60:01 – Larissa Fagundes (15), Assist Rayssa Neres (14)
68:00 – Rayssa Neres (38), Assist Laura Maria (19) and Jacqueline Rodriguez (1)
69:46 – Rayssa Neres (39), Assists Laura Maria (20 and Larissa Fagundes (14)