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Late goal ends Barton women’s season in Plains District semis
Neres v Hill (002).jpg
Rayssa Neres controls the ball during Barton’s battle with Hill College in the semifinals of the Plains District Championship. Neres scored her 42nd goal of the season but the Cougars historic season came to an end with a 3-2 loss to the Rebels.

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