16th ranked Barton storms to 1-0 upset win over 3rd ranked Cowley #GoBarton
16th ranked Barton storms to 1-0 upset win over 3rd ranked Cowley
Lucas Constante's rebound strike with 2:16 to play Wednesday afternoon sent a storming charge across the Cougar Soccer Field as the 16th ranked Barton Community College men's soccer team completed the upset knocking off unbeaten and 3rd ranked Cowley College 1-0.
Posting their fifth clean sheet of the season, the Cougars move to 3-1 in KJCCC play and 8-2 overall while the Tigers drop their conference opener and fall to 5-1 on the season. Barton will look to carry the momentum onto the road Saturday in a 3:30 p.m. kick against Head Coach Rafael Simmons former team and receiving votes Neosho County Community College.
In the opening frame, the Cougars controlled possession and held a slight 7-6 edge in shots and 5-3 advantage in shots on frame despite battling into a straight 15-20mph southerly wind.
The second half saw more of the same with the Cougars edging Cowley in the shot column by one once more 8-7 while Barton's stiff defensive pressure surrendered just one shot on frame to the Cougars three sent on target.
The breakthrough came in the 88th minute as Dennis Bottcher's punt found Nicolas Galanis head setting up Tajay Grant. Carrying Galanis header pass into the left side of the 18', Grant dialed up a perfect angled strike just grazing the right post where the unmarked foot of Constante strode in for a near side twine shaker for his third of the season.
With 2:16 to play, the Cougars managed to hold Cowley out of net despite giving up two shots in the final minute and surrendering a corner kick opportunity with just three second left.
Bottcher (5-2-0) denied all four Tiger shots faced and benefitted behind his solid defense in the final minute to secure his third shutout of the season.