DAYTONA BEACH, Fla – Midway through second half of the National Championship match, Barton appeared on its way the NJCAA men’s soccer title.
The Cougars were a goal up and a man up. Barton looked to just some 20 minutes from its first NJCAA title in men’s soccer.
But it wasn’t to be. During those final minutes of regulation the Cougars gave up a goal. Then, in the second overtime, gave up another.
That sent Pima Community College, the tournament’s top seed, to a 2-1 win over Barton to claim the National Championship. It was the first men’s soccer title for the Arizona school, which came in the top seed and finished 26-2.
The game winner for Pima came with 3:57 left in the second overtime when the Aztec’s Hugo Kametani was able to beat Felipe Baeza to the ball near the top of the box and flicked it over the Barton keeper and into the net. Kametani was second in the NJCAA in goals scored this season.
That goal capped a remarkable win for Pima.
A four minute stretch in the second half looked to have Barton on its way to the NJCAA title.
First, the Cougars took a 1-0 lead.
Barton pushed the ball quickly down the right side of the field. Sophomore Sora Wakabayaski sent the ball into the box from near the end line. The ball got past the Pima goalkeeper, heading right for Gabriel Arraes for what looked like an easy tap in.
But Pima’s Jacob Pacheo got his hand in the way and knocked the ball out. He was whistled for a hand ball in the box, giving Barton a penalty kick for the lead with 27:49 left in the match
Tevin Rochester delivered. He broke the scoreless tie when he drove his PK into the net low on the left side for a 1-0 lead.
The Cougars nearly made it 2-0 minutes later but a loose ball in the box was kicked out by an Aztec defender.
Then came another key moment – a red card on Pima.
Pima’s Javier Vega was given the red card with 23:50 play, forcing the Aztecs to play a man down the rest of the way.
But that just seemed to light a fire under Pima and make the Cougars play somewhat tepid.
Pima began to control the play a man down. With 15 minutes left the Aztecs got the ball in the box with a good chance to score. The ensuing corner kick was thwarted and Barton had dodge a bullet.
Pima kept up the pressure. About minute later another pass in the box just missed the foot of an Aztec for what would have been a great chance at a goal.
Finally, Pima broke through.
This time with 11:16 to play Isaias German got a pass about 12 yards out just right of the goal and sent it into the net to tie the match at 1-all.
That is how it stayed until the title-winning goal by Kametani.
For Barton, it was the best season in the 18-year history of the program. The runner-up finish was the best ever, topping a 3rd place effort in 2010.
The Cougars went 21-2-2, matching that 2010 season for the most wins ever.
1 Pima 2, 3 Barton 1
Barton 0 1 0 0 – 1
Pima 0 1 0 1 – 2
Barton – Rochester (PK), 62:01
Pima – German, 78:44
Pima – Kametani, 106:03
NJCAA Soccer National Championships
At Daytona Beach, Fla.
Championship – Saturday, Nov. 17
1 Pima 2, 3 Barton 1 (2 OTs)
Pima (26-2) win NJCAA Championship
Semifinals - Friday, Nov. 16
1 Pima 1, 7 Monroe 0
3 Barton 4, 5 Eastern Fla 2
Pool play – Nov 12-14
Pool A - 1 Pima (22-2); 8 Northeast Texas (16-2-2), 12 Muskegon (12-2)
Nov 12 – Pima 5, Muskegon 0
Nov 13 – NE Texas 5, Muskegon 0
Nov 14 – Pima 3, NE Texas 2 (OT)
Pool B - 2 Tyler (18-2), 7 Monroe (10-1-2); 11 CCBC Essex (13-5-2)
Nov 12 – Tyler 5, Essex 1
Nov 13 – Monroe 6, Essex 0
Nov 14 –Monroe 2, Tyler 0
Pool C – 3 Barton (18-1-2), 6 Georgia Military (14-2-1), 10 St. Louis (18-3)
Nov 12 – Barton 3, St Louis 0
Nov 13 – St. Louis 2, Ga Military 1 (OT)
Nov 14 – Barton 4, Ga Military 3
Pool D – 4 Marshalltown (17-1-1), 5 Eastern Florida (14-4), 9 Cowley (17-1)
Nov 12 – Marshalltown 2, Cowley 0
Nov 13 – Eastern Fla 4, Cowley 0
Nov 14 – Eastern Fla 0, Marshalltown 0 (E Fla advances 4-3 on Pks)
