The Barton women’s soccer knew going into its Region VI semifinal what to expect in its battle with No. 5 Butler.
Not only had the two teams played earlier in the year, it was the sixth time this season the Cougars had lined up against a team ranked in the Top 20. So Barton was not going to be intimidated by the lofty ranking of its foe.
It showed.
But unfortunately for the Cougars the results was the same as every time other they faced a Top 20 – a loss.
“It was a tough game,” Barton Coach Aaron Avila said. “We played well but weren’t able to capitalize on our chances.”
Barton battled with the Grizzlies the entire 90 minutes before coming up just short in a 2-0 loss. The loss ended Barton’s season at 9-7 with six of those setbacks to Top 20 teams. Half of those losses are to teams currently ranked in the Top 5.
Butler will take is 18-2 record into the Region VI title game against Johnson County (19-2-1). Johnson defeated Hutchinson, 4-1, in the other semifinal.
The two teams battled scoreless most of the opening half until Butler finally put a ball in the net with three minutes left in the opening 45 minutes.
Butler took a 1-0 lead in the 42nd minute when Jaclyn Means scored on a cross from Lauren Allen. Means drove it into the net with her left foot to the far post.
That is how the contest went to half.
The scored stayed 1-0 for most of the second half as Barton played with a wind at its back. It wasn’t until Means scored her second goal of the game with just 8:57 left that hope faded from the Barton sideline.
Means got through the Barton defense and found herself 1 on 1 with Maria-Elena Garcia at the goal. Means went far post once again to make it 2-0 and put the Cougars backs well to the wall.
The 2-0 loss was in improvement from the earlier meeting in El Dorado. The last time the two teams met, Butler won 6-0.
“The girls have improved a lot throughout the season,” Coach Avila said. “They showed it throughout the regionals. We proved we belong in the final four this year.”