With the season on the brink, the 5th ranked Barton Community College men's soccer team scored an 85th minute goal before burying a golden goal penalty kick to stay alive at the National Tournament with a 2-1 victory over 2nd ranked Salt Lake Community College on Tuesday evening at Wichita's Styker Sports Complex.
Now 18-3-3 on the year, Barton's victory forces a unique scenario in Pool C in determining who advances out to the semifinals. Salt Lake, who was in the driver's seat to advance, takes their second loss of the year dropping to 17-2-2.
Next on the agenda is a bizarre mini-pool tournament held on Wednesday as the trio of teams in the pool are tied after three tie-break scenarios. Barton will get a 1:00 p.m. rematch with Indian Hills, the same Warrior team that knocked off Barton Monday on a 2-1 second period golden goal victory with the Cougars playing two-men down. Twenty minutes following the conclusion, the victor will take on Salt Lake in the same format with the victor advancing to Thursday's National Semfinals.
Set pieces set up both teams' regulation time goals, Salt Lake getting on the board thirty-one minutes in the contest as Khaya Gregory bodied in Carles Zomeno's free kick.
Playing without two key defenseman in Kimito Fritz and Henrique Cruz serving a game suspension from Monday's opening pool play, the Cougars stayed stout the rest of the contest giving the offensive attack time for the equalizer.
Like the Bruins, Barton would eventually capitalize on a set piece as Lucas Dos Santos delivered off Nicolas Galanis' corner kick to head in the equalizer with 4:18 remaining for the freshman's first collegiate goal.
Into golden goal extra time, the Cougars' leading scorer Lucas Constante created havoc in the penalty box resulting in getting pulled down with 3:10 having clicked off the clock. In stepped Galanis for the pressure spot kick, taking his time before sending in his 11th goal of the year and more importantly the game winning shot setting off a mass celebration from the Cougars and fans in attendance.