When Ousmane Camara took over the women’s soccer program at Barton three years he began building it to where he wanted it.
Now in year three, he has what he hopes is a juggernaut.
“It has been a long process from 2016 when I took over until now,” Coach Camara said. “We have been building the team for this year. We are looking to compete for that West title, no doubt.”
And why not?
The team has an unheard of 19 sophomores on the squad. Among that group is the returning first team All Jayhawk West goalkeeper and seven more players that earned second team honors.
That team went 6-4-2 in the West to finish fourth while going 9-6-3 overall.
Leading the way will be sophomore keeper Reyna Gonzalez from Liberal. Last season she gave up just 18 goals in 16 games. Her save percentage was better than 80 percent. Gonzalez finished with 82 saves.
“It is great to have her back,” Coach Camara said. “She did a great job for us in goal last year. She saved us a lot. We expect the same thing this year.”
Among those returning for the Cougars is leading scorer Larissa Fagundes. The sophomore from Brazil scored 14 goals last season – fifth best in the entire Jayhawk.
Jessica Simental scored seven goals for Barton last year and Raley Mantz scored six. Those three were second team All-West picks as forwards.
In the midfield, Barton will bring back Ariadna Ramirez, fourth on the team in assists and a second team All West pick last year. Johanna Behrens and Alma Garay return as backrow players that were second team picks as well. Behrens was second in assists last year for the Cougars.
In addition to that strong nucleus, Coach Camara is looking for immediately help on offense from some of the newcomers.
Laura Pereira Maria, a freshman from Brazil, in one of those new faces Camara is looking for contributions.
“Her speed is unbelievable,” Coach Camara said. “She is strong as well, which reminds me of Maddie (Schofield) from a couple of years ago, but she is much faster.”
Schofield scored 15 goals two years ago for Barton.
Another freshman from Brazil looking to contribute will be Rayssa Souza. Souza came in the spring, so she has familiarity with the team already. Camara noted her speed as well.
New to the team but coming in as a sophomore will be Margarita Franco on the defensive side. The native of Spain spent last season playing NCAA DII, so Camara looks for her to make a fairly easy transition to the NJCAA level.
The season will get started Saturday with a home contest against State Fair. The two battled to a scoreless tie early in the season.
The West season will start Sept. 5 when Garden City comes to Barton. The lone team from the West that opens the season in the NJCAA Top 20 is Cloud County. The Thunderbirds are No. 14 in the pre-season poll.
Barton and Cloud won’t meet in until late September in the first of two regular season matches.
“We are excited to get going,” Coach Camara said. “We have won all three of our scrimmages. I think this team is ready for the challenge.”
BARTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE WOMEN’S SOCCER ROSTER
0 Reyna Gonzalez, Goalkeeper, SO, 5’8”, Liberal
1 Priscilla Munoz, Goalkeeper, SO, 5’3”, El Paso, TX
2 Johanna Behrens, Defender, SO, 5’5”, Bochum, Germany
3 Sydney Sulzman, Forward, SO, 5’5”, Hays
4 Elizabeth Fematt, Forward, SO, 5’7”, El Paso, TX
5 Jacqueline Rodriguez, Midfielder, SO, 5’4”, El Paso, TX
6 Jordan Bruner, Forward, SO, 5’9”, McPherson
7 Rayssa Souza, Forward, FR, 5’9”, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
8 Luisa Souza, Defender, SO, 5’3”, Santo Andre, SP, Brazil
9 Jessica Simental, Forward, SO, 5’1”, El Paso, TX
10 Larissa Fagundes, Midfielder, SO, 5’7”, Joinville, Brazil
11 Thamires Lima, Midfielder, SO, 5’6”, Serra, Espirito Santo, Brazil
12 Ariadna Ramirez, Midfielder, SO, 5’3”, Bogota, Columbia
13 Raley Mantz, Forward, SO, 5’2”, Derby
14 Alejandra Galindo, Midfielder, SO, 5’4”, El Paso, TX
15 Domenica Becerra, Midfielder, FR, 5’3”, Quito, Ecuador
16 Rene Brown, MF, FR, 5’5”, St. Catherine, Jamaica
17 Connie Norris, Midfielder, SO, 5’4”, Hays
18 Alexsandra Oliveira, Defender, FR, 5’9”, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
19 Tressa Becker, Midfielder, SO, 5’4”, Hays
20 Alma Garay, Defender, SO, 5’5”, Great Bend
21 Georgia Lawton, Defender, FR, 5’8”, Stoke-on-Trent, England
22 Laura Pereira Maria, Forward, FR, 5’6”, Tubarao, Brazil
23 Sara Reguera, Midfielder, FR, 5’6”, Leon, Spain
24 Larissa Souza, Midfielder, FR, 5’7”, Campinas, Brazil
27 Margarita Franco, Defender, SO, 5’4”, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
30 Diana Lara, Defender, FR, 5’6”, Salina
COACH/STAFF
Head Coach: Ousmane “OC” Camara (3rd Season)
Head Athletic Trainer: Ken Henderson
Assistant Athletic Trainer: Jonathon Lovercamp
Student Athletic Trainer: Jacqueline Sanchez
Managers: Ellie Anspaugh, Esmeralda Delgadillo, Jessica Esparza, Alejandra Garcia, Juvenal Garay, Martin Hernandez
SCHEDULE
August
8-11 SC Cosmos, W, 5-3
8-15 at Southwestern College, W, 3-1
8-18 at Tabor College, W, 3-1
8-21 at McPherson College, Cancelled
8-25 State Fair Community College, 2: p.m.
8-28 at Bethel College, 7:30 p.m.
September
9-1 vs. Seminole State College @ Midwest City, OK, 4 p.m.
9-2 at Rose State College, 2 p.m.
9-5 Garden City Community College 2 p.m.
9-8 at Hutchinson Community College 6 p.m.
9-12 Hesston College 2 p.m.
9-15 Dodge City Community College 2 p.m.
9-19 Pratt Community College 2 p.m.
9-22 at Cloud County Community College 2 p.m.
9-26 Northwest Kansas Technical College, 2 p.m.
9-29 at Garden City Community College, 5 p.m.
October
10-3 Hutchinson Community College 2 p.m.
10-6 at Hesston College 5 p.m.
10-10 at Dodge City Community College 2 p.m.
10-13 at Pratt Community College 1 p.m.
10-17 Cloud County Community College 2 p.m.
10-20 at Northwest Kansas Technical College 2 p.m.
