It didn't take long for the Barton women's soccer team to turn up the heat Saturday against Dodge City.
Much like the 100-plus temperatures on the playing surface, the Cougars came out on fire and established an early lead in the match on the way to a 5-0 win over the Conquistadors in Region VI play.
The win move Barton to 2-0-1 in the region and 3-2-1 overall. Dodge City is 2-2 and 3-4-1.
Barton scored twice in the first seven minutes of the contest on the way to win and run its unbeaten streak to three games.
Laura Maria picked up both Barton goals in the opening minutes of the play.
The freshman from Brazil scored her fifth goal of the season with 41:05 left in the opening half. Larissa Fagundes started it with a pass to Rayssa Neres at the top of the box. Neres quickly flipped it Maria on the left side, who buried in the net for the early lead.
Just minutes later, Maria found herself in the open after a pass from Neres and made it 2-0 with 38:07 still to play in the opening half as Barton played into a 15 mph win in the opening 45 minutes.
That is how the game to half.
The match stayed 2-0 well into the second half as Barton used some of its depth in the early portions of the half.
Neres finally broke the scoreless half with a steal and one-on-one with the Dodge City keeper, beating her to the near post for a 3-0 with 16:30 left in the game.
Much like the first half, the Cougars scored a pair of goals within minutes of each other. And, much like the first half, it was the same player with both goals.
Neres scored for the team-leading ninth time this year as Ariadna Ramirez feed her for a goal with 13 minutes left in the match.
Fagundes picked up a goal in the final stages on an assist from Maria with just more than five minutes left.
Barton is back home Monday to make up its postponed match from last week. Garden City will make the trip to the Barton Sports Complex for a 2 pm kickoff.
Barton 5, Dodge 0
Dodge 0 0 – 0
Barton 2 3 – 5
Barton – Maria (Neres, Fagundes), 4:00
Barton – Maria (Neres), 7:00
Barton – Neres (unassisted), 74:00
Barton – Neres (Ramirez), 77:00
Barton - Fagundes (Maria), 82:00
