With just four games remaining on the regular season schedule, every game loomed large for the Barton women’s soccer team.
Some, however, are a bit larger than others. Monday was one of those games. The Cougars are battling to grab the third seed in the upcoming Region VI tournament. A loss Monday would have taken nearly any chance for that away.
Barton kept its hopes alive for the high seed with a 3-2 win over Garden City at the Barton Sports Complex. Garden is one of the teams the Cougars are battling for that third spot.
With the win, Barton moved into a tie with the Broncbusters at 5-4 in the region. Both teams are one game clear of Dodge City at 4-5. Barton is 6-5-1 overall while Garden is now 6-6-1. Dodge is 6-6.
That third spot is important because it presents a first round match up with either Northwest Tech (1-8-1) or Pratt (0-13). The two teams that don’t claim the third spot will play each other in the first round.
The contest Monday afternoon saw all the scoring take place in the first 45 minutes of play.
It didn’t take long for Garden City to get on the board. Kelly Ramirez scored just 1:40 into the contest.
Barton wasn’t able to tie the game until 23 minutes remained in the first half. Hannah Knaak evened the score when she stole a throw in and dribbled through the Garden defense to tie it at 1-all.
That started a scoring frenzy. Garden’s Amelia Juarez scored just five minutes later on a 35-yard free kick through a 20 mph wind to make it 2-1.
Less than two minutes after that, Knaak was at it again. The sophomore was there to put in a rebound off an Analia Torres free kick to tie it at 2-all with 16:25 to play in the half.
Barton took its first lead of the match with just less than 10 minutes to play in the half. Kirsty Ashworth’s free kick from 30 yards out sailed over the Garden keeper and into the net for a 3-2 lead.
After the flurry of scoring was over – four goals in a matter of 13-plus minutes – Barton went to half on top 3-2.
That was be it for the scoring. Both teams has their chances in the second half including two golden opportunities in the final minute for the Broncbusters. But Barton keeper Alexandra Capalbo turned back both to preserve the huge win for the Cougars.
Barton can take a huge step toward locking down that third seed Thursday when Hesston comes the Barton Sports Complex. Hesston is currently second the region with a 7-1 mark and 11-2 overall.

Barton 3, Garden City 2
Garden City 2 0 – 2
Barton 3 0 – 3
Garden – Kelly Ramirez (Sierra Rivera), 1:40
Barton – Hannah Knaak (unassisted), 22:00
Garden – Amelia Juarez (unassisted), 26:40
Barton – Knaak (Analia Torres), 28:35
Barton – Kirsty Ashworth (unassisted), 35:12