Kansas City Kansas Community College landed its biggest win of the Jayhawk Conference season Tuesday, knocking No. 5 ranked Barton out of the ranks of the unbeaten with a late-minute 2-1 win.

The loss was not only Barton's first, but it jolted the Cougars out of first place in the conference. Even better, the win lifted KCKCC into third place with just two remaining games – the first against league-leading Cowley.

The upset also sets up a wild race to the finish. Cowley (7-2) and Barton (6-1-2) are almost in a virtual tie for first place with KCKCC (4-3-3) holding a slight edge over Dodge City (4-3-2) for third place.

KCKCC has two games remaining - at home against Cowley Oct. 21 and a neutral site clash with Garden City in Wichita Oct. 23. The other three teams have remaining contests including a Barton at Cowley showdown Oct. 18.

A perfectly executed play by sophomores Jacob Thomas and Ajay Stewart with 9:38 remaining provided the game winner against Barton. Thomas took advantage of a forced Barton turnover at midfield, brought the ball upfield about 20 yards and blazed a pass across to Stewart who took it in midstream for the game-winner.

An alert play by Stewart also produced KCKCC's first goal just 12:34 into the first half. Stewart picked off an errant Cougar pass near midfield, beat a defender and goalkeeper Dennis Bottcher for the 1-0 lead. Barton got the tying goal 3:22 into the second half, Henrique Cruz scoring on a near post laser off a pass from Kimito Fritz. Neither team launched more than four shots on goal in the fierce defensive battle.

"Another solid performance by our back line led by Captain Rory Stenhouse and solid play by a host of midfielders, all of which gave our forwards the chances we needed," KCKCC assistant coach Burke Slusher said.

The contest was the second of the season between the two teams, who battled to a 1-1 deadlock earlier in Great Bend. KCKCC is now 2-2-1 in its last five meetings with Barton although Barton has a 6-5-0 edge at KCKCC and is 15-5-3 all-time.