One minute into its season opener, the Barton women’s soccer team was shaking its a head a bit.

A breakdown on the defensive end put the Cougars in a quick 1-0 hole just one minute in.

But that did not faze the Cougars.

Instead, Barton responded by tying the game moments later and putting together a 10-minute stretch later in the half to take complete control of the contest.

The Cougars used a 3-goal, 8-minute stretch near the end of the half to lead them to a 9-1 win over State Fair College to open the 2018 campaign.

The contest was in sharp contrast to the 0-0 draw to the two teams played to last season through a pair of overtimes in Sedalia, Mo.

It was a good opener for several of the 19 returning players for the Cougars as well as a big splash for some freshmen.

Two freshman scored two goals apiece and another freshman notched four assists in the win.

Barton fell behind in the opening minute when State Fair’s Alys Beadle got alone in a 1 on 1 situation and buried the ball into the net for a 1-0 lead.

It would pretty much be the last mistake the Cougars made the entire 90 minutes.

Barton drew even just five minutes later when sophomore Larissa Fagundes took a cross from Laura Maria and found the net to even things at 1-all. It would be the first of four assists for Maria.

That is where the match stayed until 17 minutes remained in the half. At that point, Barton took its first lead freshman Domenica Pena took a pass from Thamires Lima and drove it in near post for a 2-1 lead.

Pena wasn’t done. She made it 3-1 at the 9:53 mark, dribbling past the Roadrunner defense and going top post for the two-goal lead.

Less than one minute after Pena’s second goal, Barton was in complete control of the contest when sophomore Johanna Behrens scored on a penalty kick. Jessica Simental was fouled in the box by the State Fair keeper, allowing Behrens the opportunity for the PK and a 4-1 lead with 9:01 to play.

That is how the game went to half as Barton peppered the Roadrunner keeper with numerous shots on goal into a slight breeze.

From there, the Cougars were on cruise control. Sydney Sulzman made it 5-1 near the midway point of the second half as the Hays sophomore found the scoreboard.

The lead grew to 6-1 when freshman Rayssa Souza showed her skills by dribbling through the Roadrunner defense and scoring the first of what may be several goals for the Cougars in her career with 18 minutes left in the contest.

It didn’t take long for Souza to score the second goal of her career. The Brazilian made 7-1 just eight minutes later on the second assist from Maria.

The onslaught continued as Maria’s collected her third assist one minute later, connecting with McPherson sophomore Jordan Bruner to make it 8-1.

Maria, a freshman from Brazil, recorded her fourth assist before it was over. She hooked up with Modesto with four minutes to play for the final 9-1 margin.

The Cougars will be back on the pitch next weekend with a trip to Midwest City, Okla. Barton will play Seminole State on Saturday and Rose State on Sunday.