Trailing early, the Barton Community College men’s soccer team traded goals until Tyler Dixon scored the game-winning goal for the Cougars on Wednesday afternoon at the BCC soccer and track complex.
Barton won the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference season opener 3-2 against Dodge City (3-1-0 overall, 0-1 KJCCC).
“I think it was a heart stopper,” Barton head coach Oliver Twelvetrees said. “No doubt about it. It was exciting, frustrating. We saw some great goals. We also saw some very naive play. They’re a young team, and hopefully this will bring them together a little more.”
Barton (3-0-1. 1-0) was No. 13 in the NJCAA rankings released today.
“It was good to get back on, and we almost blew it today,” Twelvetrees said. “We got back on, and if we get a couple wins this weekend, we should be able to get into the top 5.”
Dixon broke a 2-2 tie with 2:24 remaining in the game after fielding a cross pass from Sam McCrillis.
McCrillis scored earlier in the second half on an assist from Ezequiel Alvarez, making the score 1-1.
Dodge City went ahead 2-1 at the 68:35 mark, but the Conquistadors scored an own goal to tie the game at two.
“They scored first in the second half,” Twelvetrees said. “We were basically playing from behind all game. Once we scored one, I was like, ‘OK, we can go on to win the game.’ Then we give up another goal.
“Luckily, we have Sam. He had one goal and one assist. He was a part of the own goal, as well. He creates havoc for defenders.”
Barton travels to Iowa to challenge Iowa Lakes on Saturday at noon, and No. 6-ranked Iowa Western on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Lady Cougars
trample Lady Conqs
Bianca Barron led the Barton women’s soccer team with a hat trick on Wednesday afternoon at the soccer and track complex.
Barron scored the only two goals in the first half, giving the Lady Cougars a 2-0 lead on their way to a 5-1 victory over KJCCC foe Dodge City (2-3, 1-1).
“She is definitely a threat up top,” Barton head coach Aaron Avila said. “She’s got good feet. She holds the ball well. She’s got a good first touch.
“Most of all, though, is she works really hard. She creates a lot of the chances that she gets, and when her teammates create chances for her, she can usually finish.”
Freshman goalkeeper Cecilee Horlacher was named the KJCCC Player of the Week after recording a shutout against Western Nebraska on Sunday. She worked the goal in the first half before Avila put in Great Bend High School product Stephanie Lomas for the second half.
“She had a good game,” Avila said of Horlacher. “It’s good for the player. It’s gives her a little recognition. It makes a little noise for the program.”
Ruth Cazier and Jessica Rosenberg both recorded a goal for Barton (3-1, 1-0).
The Lady Cougars host MCC-Maple Woods at 2 p.m. today at the soccer and track complex.

                                                                                              — Kevin Price