Kevin Ellis capped his stellar men’s soccer career at Barton Community College with a first-team NJCAA All-American honor this week.
Ellis, a sophomore from Kansas City, becomes Barton’s first outfield player to earn back-to-back All-American honors. Ellis was a second-team All-American as a freshman.
This season he helped guide the Cougars to the best finish in school history, placing third at the NJCAA national tournament. During his two-year career at Barton, the Cougars had a combined mark of 41-8-1, were two-time Region VI Champions and made back-to-back appearances at national tournament for the first time in school history.
Ellis joins goalkeeper Craig Ratanamorn as just the second two-time All-American in school history. He is just the fourth first-team pick for the Cougars in their 10-year history. Ratanamorn was a back-to-back first-team selection in 2005 and 2006. Marcello Carminatti, a forward, was a first-team pick as well in 2008. Ellis is the first defender to be honored as an All American for Barton. With Ellis’ selection this season, the Cougars have now had an All-American for nine straight years — all but the first season of the program — and a first-team pick in four of the past six.
“Kevin is one of the top athletes we’ve ever had here at Barton,” BCC head coach Oliver Twelvetrees said. “He’s played a key role in back-to-back national tournament appearances (for the Cougars).
“He proved this year he is one of the best players in the nation.”
From his back row position, Ellis scored 11 goals and added four assists to finish third on the team in scoring.
Ellis was able to notch a majority of those goals on corner and free kicks, when he would move up the field to the net. Last season, he finished with 23 goals to give him a school-record 34 during this career. His 23 goals as a freshman is second all-time for a single season. Ellis played midfield and forward most of his first season with the Cougars. Ellis’ 80 points also eclipsed the school record by a single point.
His biggest asset this season came when he moved to the back line 10 games into the year. During the first nine games, Barton had allowed 14 goals. After his move to the back, Barton surrendered just six goals over the next 14 games to send the Cougars to Tyler, Texas and the NJCAA Tournament. Barton didn’t allow more than 1 goal in any game until the NJCAA Tournament and posted eight shutouts after his move to the back.
“His move into the back led to a big improvement in our team this year,” Ellis said. “I’m looking forward to seeing Kevin reach his full potential and play professionally some day.