The 5th ranked Barton Community College men's soccer team produced offense early and often Wednesday afternoon in the Region VI/Plains District Semifinals defeating Kansas City Kansas Community College 6-1 at the Cougar Soccer Complex.
Moving to 17-1-3 on the season and punching its ticket to Sunday's 3:30 p.m. Region VI/Plains District Championship held at Johnson County Community College, the top-seeded Cougars await 2nd seeded Cowley College for the third time this season after the Tigers notched a 7-0 victory over Crowder College in the other semifinal result. The Blue Devils complete their season at 7-6-3.
Despite facing sustained 20-25mph winds in the opening 45-minutes, Barton played the aggressors needing just 5:36 to take the lead as a loose ball finding Maxence Voinier to then send a through ball fashioned a 1v1 Lucas Constante net shaker.
Nearly ten minutes later Henrique Cruz initiated Constante's second twine finder of the afternoon as the leading goal scorer struck for his 19th of the year with a upper-90 turn and deliver shot attempt gifting Barton a 2-0 advantage into the halftime break.
The Cougars increased the lead just 4:19 into the second half with Lucas Dos Santos' delivered throw-in making its' way to the backside of the box finding the unmarked boot of Nicolas Galanis for the first of his three second half goals.
KCK would spoil the shutout opportunity 7:53 ensuing with Ajay Stewart sneaking behind the Barton backline laying in Noah Conover's setup pass cutting the margin back to a two-goal deficit.
Loic Kanku lengthened the Cougar lead back to three in the 77th minute with a back foot heal touch going far post from Constante's through ball sent across the box.
Showing up at the right place and right time, Galanis would deliver two more times in a span of 4:20, rebounding Kanku's and Constante's blocked shot attempts in fabricating the sophomore's first collegiate hat-trick.
Dennis Bottcher and his defensive backline of Henrique Cruz, Nils Knecht, Lucas Dos Santos, Diego Sano, and Kimito Fritz held the Blue Devils to eight total shots and four on frame as Bottcher improved to 14-1-3 between the pipes with three saves.
Barton Scoring:
5:36 Lucas Constante (18); Assist: Maxence Voinier (2)
15:02 Lucas Constante (19); Assist: Henrique Cruz (7)
50:41 Nicolas Galanis (8); Assist: Lucas Dos Santos (1)
76:35 Loic Kanku (6); Assist: Lucas Constante (5)
79:22 Nicolas Galanis (9); Assist: Loic Kanku (7)
83:42 Nicolas Galanis (10); Assist: Lucas Constante (6)
Series Notes:
- Barton went 1-1-1 against KCK this season
- Barton is 3-2-1 against KCK in the postseason
- Barton leads the series in Great Bend 8-0-3
- Barton leads the overall series 16-5-3
Record Book Watch
Lucas Constante:
- 19 single season goals – Moved into tie for 7th with Harry Newman (2009) and Ricardo Yeverino (2010) – 1 behind Bruno Conceicao (2005), Desmond Yankey (2005), Marcelo Carminatti (2008) and Gabriel Arraes (2018)
- 24 career goals – Moved into 9th all-time tied with Desmond Yankey (2004-2005) and Leandro Reis (2008-2009) – 2 behind Gabriel Arraes (2017-2018)
- 44 single season points – Moved into tie for 9th with Ricardo Yeverino (2010) – 1 behind Desmond Yankey (2005)
- 54 career points – 12th all-time – 2 behind Desmond Yankey (2004-2005)
Dennis Bottcher:
- 40 single season saves – Moved into 14th – 4 behind Nathan Barnett (2003) and Bruce Turner (2015)