CLEBURNE, Texas – One of the most successful seasons in Barton women’s soccer came to a close Friday afternoon.
The Cougars, just two wins away from their first NJCAA National Tournament appearance, saw their season come to an end in the Plains District semifinals on a late goal by host Hill College.
Hill won the match 3-2 to end the Cougars season. Barton closes the 2018 campaign with a 15-4-1 record.
Hill advanced to take on Region VI school Butler in the finals. Butler beat Rose State (Okla) in the other semifinal by a 5-0 margin.
Barton, ranked No. 20, knew going in it would be a battle. Hill, ranked No. 18, had won five straight District 5 titles. Despite those five straight district titles, Hill (13-1) will be playing No. 11 Butler (16-4) for its first trip to the NJCAA Tournament.
After falling behind 1-0 13 minutes into the match on Friday afternoon at The Depot, Barton evened match at 1-all later in the half.
Rayssa Neres scored her 42nd goal of the season on a cross from Larissa Modesto with 11:50 left in the half.
Just a couple minutes later, Barton had the lead.
This time it was Johanna Behrens, turning one in the net from 20 yards with 9:27 to play in the first half to give Barton a 2-1 lead.
It looked like Barton would go to half with that lead but things swung in the final minute.
With 1:01 to play in the half, the Cougars were whistled for a foul in the box and the resulting penalty kick tied the match at 2-all to half.
The contest remained tied as neither team could break through with the goal to give them the lead.
That is until just 12:41 remained in the game. Hill finally scored what would prove to the game winner for the Rebels at that point.
18 Hill 3, 20 Barton 2
Barton 2 0 – 2
Hill 2 1 – 3
Hill – unavailable, 13:00
Barton – Neres (Modesto), 34:00
Barton – Behrens, 36:00
Hill – unavailable (PK), 45:00
Hill – unavailable, 78:00