HESSTON — With the regular season winding down, every game in the region is big for seeding purposes in the post season.
The Barton men’s soccer team earned a big win Sunday at Hesston as the Cougars shutout the Larks 3-0 to move closer to securing that second seed in the West for the upcoming Region VI playoffs.
Barton scored once in the first half and two more times in the second half to secure the win. Barton is now 5-3-1 in the region and tied for second with Dodge City with 16 points. Dodge is 5-5-1. Barton is 9-5-1 overall. Hesston is 2-7 and 7-8-1.
The Cougars have three more games in the region in which to earn points while Dodge City has just one. Northwest Tech is lurking behind both with a 5-4 mark with 15 points and three games left as well.
Those three, along with region leader Cloud County (11-0) have secured playoff spots, it is just a matter of what seed Barton, Dodge and Northwest Tech shake out in the final week of play.
Barton scored what would end up being the game winner just 18 minutes into the game when Steve Taylor scored on an assist from Angel Lopez.
Barton would add two more second goals early in the second half and hold on for the 3-0 win.
Gabriel De Almeida scored a goal and earned an assist in the second half. He scored on assists from Hiroo Kimura and Ezra Armstrong. His assist came on a goal by Francis Eto.
The Cougars got off 21 shots during the contest, putting 10 on goal. Hesston, meanwhile, got of just seven shots.
Barton will have two home games this week. Northwest Tech visits the Barton Soccer Complex Wednesday while Pratt comes to town Saturday. The regular season will wrap up Monday in Goodland against Northwest Tech.
Wins in two of those games would secure the second spot for Barton in the post season.

Barton 3, Hesston 0
Hesston 0 0 — 0
Barton 1 2 — 3
Barton – Steve Taylor (Angel Lopez), 18:23
Barton – Francis Eto (Gabriel De Almeida), 50:24
Barton – De Almeida (Hiroo Kimura, Ezra Armstrong), 53:39