A bitter feeling that will resonate with the Barton Community College women's soccer team for a long time filled the Cougar sideline Sunday at Wichita's Stryker Sports Complex as Butler Community College netted the game winner in the 77th minute going on to win 3-1 and the Region VI/Plains District Championship.
Tied at 1-1 after first half play, the already undermanned Cougars faced a two-man down situation following questionable calls. Playing the final twenty-three minutes at a huge disadvantage, ten minutes later Butler scored the eventual winner with another tacked on with six minutes left in the contest on the exhausted Cougars.
With slim hopes alive for an at-large berth for the national tournament, Barton's season most likely ends at 12-4-1. Butler, now 8-8-0 earns the automatic bid for the NJCAA Division I Championship Tournament held June 3-8 in Evans, Georgia.
"I was extremely proud of the girls for playing tough all game, especially through the circumstances," said Head Coach Ousmane "OC" Camara. "We've beat nationally ranked teams this year but it's hard to compete with two key players being taken from the game in situations I don't understand. I just feel bad for the girls. They worked so hard this year and are national tournament worthy. It's just really sad how their season came to end like this."
Barton grabbed the lead at the 34th minute of the contest off Seulgi Lee's free kick as Gisselle Melendez-Valles' slipped between a Butler defender and net protector Maggie Koster to head in her first goal of the year.
A miscommunication in the Barton backfield led to the Grizzlies' equalizer at the 41st minute. In just her fifth game in goal, third string goalkeeper Maria Gutierrez and her defensive line fell out of sync with Abbi Clark taking advantage tying it up.
The Cougars outshot the Grizzlies 8-3 in first half play and 14-10 for the game as Butler held a slim 7-6 second half edge despite Barton not having an offensive attack the final twenty-five minutes.
Twenty minutes into second half action, things started to unravel as Bruna Pereira was called for a yellow card tackle with an additional yellow tacked on for questioning the call.
Two minutes later Barton's Francesca Martella dribbled through a pair of Butler defenders before getting body checked onto the turf. To the dismay, instead of a Butler foul Martella was called for a flop resulting in a yellow card violation. Having received an earlier first half yellow card, the second booking also took the second Barton player out of the game for the remainder of the contest.
Despite not having the players to launch any credible offensive attack, the Cougars battled tough defensively for the next ten minutes before a seam opened in the backfield resulting in Rachel Wolecki's game winner with thirteen minutes remaining.
Same story same dance for the icing goal, Barton trying to launch outmanned attacks and Butler working over the Cougar defense before Ellie McDonald's 85th minute tack-on goal.