Barton Community College women’s soccer team looks to repeat their success last year with one exception — winning the NJCAA Region VI championship game this time around.
Last season, the Lady Cougars posted a 17-4 overall record. The first loss was at the beginning of the season at the Barton Tournament, where they lost to Western Nebraska. They only lost two more games the rest of the season, but the most agonizing defeat was against Johnson County in the Region VI title game. Both teams fought hard,  and the Lady Cougars lost in double overtime 1-0.
The Lady Cougars open their season on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Memorial Stadium against Maple Woods, which beat Barton last season 4-1 in Kansas City, Mo.
This season, the Lady Cougars will play with 15 freshmen and six returning players. In terms of experience,  BCC head coach Bryan Sailer is only returning two of his starting front six and only one of his defenders, along with his starting goalie.
“This year we are freshmen- loaded,” Sailer said. “I wouldn’t say any year is a redevelopment year at this level. You can’t use that as an excuse. We are young, young, but talented.”
While the team’s players come from all over, Sailer has noticed it is becoming easier to recruit Kansas players.
“It’s probably the best in-state recruiting class I’ve ever had,” Sailer said. “I think it was tough at the beginning and now we’re just able to get good, quality kids to join our program.”
When asked why that is, the coach smiled and said, “We’re better now.”
The Barton offense will mostly likely be led by Shala Giardini, who led the nation in goals  last season.  She also captured first-team All-America honors last season.
Giardini scored 59 goals, leading the second-place at the junior college level by 20, Sailer said.
The catch is, she’s injured right now.
“She has an ankle injury,” Sailer said. “She’s been hurt all preseason, so once she’s back fit, of course I see her at the top because she’s done it.”
Giardini is just now starting to train with the team, so the Lady Cougars will be looking to other players for scoring opportunities while she continues to heal.
Daniel Saucedo has been standing out as a goal-scoring threat in the preseason, according to Sailer.
“I have a lot of players on offense,” Sailer said. “A lot of my players are pretty dynamic.”
Defensively, the Lady Cougars are only returning one player, all-conference performer Amanda Neuschafer. Joining Neuschafer at defense is Jessie Santacruz, Joan Daly and  Haley Gerleman.
“They’ve been very strong in the preseason, so they’ve come together very quick,” Sailer said.
At keeper, Barton is returning Corey LaMoureaux, who is coming off  a solid performance at the end of last season.
“She definitely peaked in the playoffs and she was dynamite in the playoff,” Sailer said. “She only gave up only one goal in the regional playoff and that was in double overtime.”
Sailer says that there are definite differences between this team and his teams from the past three years he has been here.
“The team speed is good all over the field,” Sailer said. “We hold the ball better than any team I’ve ever had, meaning possession.  We don’t give it away very much.”