14th ranked Barton women open season with 3-1 win at Dodge City #GoBarton

A pair of early strike goals got the 14th ranked Barton Community College women's soccer team off to a good start in picking up a season opening 3-1 win Wednesday night at Dodge City Community College.

Doubling as the conference opener as well, Barton remains in KJCCC play on Saturday in hosting 7th ranked Butler Community College in a 10:00 a.m. kick. The Grizzlies, having opened their season with a 2-all tie at 8th ranked Seminole State College, slipped in their conference opener 1-0 to Coffeyville Community College Wednesday night in El Dorado.

The Cougars pinned two tallies on the board within 39 seconds of each other, the first coming 8:20 into the contest.

Lining up a free-kick 42 yards from goal, Hinata Kojima's send-in to the box was met in air by Aya Saiki whose perfectly placed header crossed far side rattling the net upper-90 for her 15th career goal.

Saiki keyed the next tally in winning the ball on the defensive side of the midfield, sending a deep pass towards the Conquistador net. Outdueling the defense, last season's nation leading goal scorer Nina Norshie chipped over the Conquistador keeper to net her 44th career goal ranking 4th in program history.

The margin held until 12:31 left in the game as the Conquistadors' Maria Scopino played a chipped pass into the box where Femke Wiedeman quickly fired far post in beating a full laid-out Mio Tanaka in net.

Ivanna Faria closed out the scoring with 1:24 remaining, winning the battle amongst a pair of Conquistadors defender in rebounding her own shot towards goal to register her 9th career goal.

Barton outshot the Conquistadors 7-2 through first half action, finishing at a 16-8 advantage including an 8-2 shots on goal edge to win their 11th straight in the series.

Tananka earned her first collegiate goal in net, turning back the two Conquistador shots on frame and orchestrating a stout defense for most of the night.