Barton Soccer teams release 2015 schedules

The Barton Community College soccer teams recently released their 2015 schedule.

The Lady Cougars have put together a seventeen game schedule with four 2014 nationally ranked opponents while the Cougar men have eighteen dates with three ranked opponents.  With eight home dates are on each schedule, only six of those will be doubleheaders at Cougar Field.

Action for the women's squad will begin with three exhibitions to open the season.  Azteca FC will come to campus for an August 12 6:00 p.m. kick while Fort Hays State University makes a trip to the Cougar turf for a 10:00 a.m. kick on August 15.  The Lady Cougars wrap up exhibition play August 21 at Tabor College.

Two road contests begin the actual season with trips to Bethel College on August 23 and two days later at Central Christian College.  Barton will then host 2014 No. 20 ranked Iowa Central Community College on August 28 in the season's home opener.

Following another non-conference road trip to Kansas Wesleyan University, the Lady Cougars will host their second 2014 nationally ranked opponent in three matches as No. 15 ranked Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa rolls to town for a 2:00 p.m. kick on September 9.

Barton opens conference play on September 12 at Cowley College before hosting Pratt Community College on September 15.   Two 2014 nationally ranked teams dot the conference schedule with a September 30 date hosting No. 10 and defending Region VI Champion Butler Community College followed a week later with a trip to No. 11 ranked Hutchinson Community College, a team that ended the Lady Cougars' season 1-0 in the semifinals of the Region VI playoffs. 

Besides Butler and Hutchinson, the Lady Cougars trailed two other teams in the conference standings last season.  Barton will travel to Johnson County Community College on September 22 and host Allen County Community College on October 17 to kick off a three-game homestand.  The Red Devils of Allen took last season's regular season matchup 2-0 but the Lady Cougars got the ultimate revenge with a thrilling 7-6 shootout victory to end Allen's season on their home turf and send Barton to the Region VI Semifinals for the third straight season.

Stepping out of conference play three days later, Barton will host MCC-Longview on October 20 before hosting Coffeyville Community College for the final regular season game on October 24.

The Lady Cougars will wind up the regular season October 26 at Kansas City Community College before turning attention to the Region VI playoffs.

The Cougar men's team will have two exhibitions, one at home with Bethany College on August 15 followed by an August 21 trip to Tabor College.  Staying on the road, the Cougars will officially open up the 2014 season August 25 at Central Christian College then on to Kansas Wesleyan University on August 30.

September 3 will be the men's home opener as the Cougars take on the junior varsity of Sterling College in a 5:00 p.m. kick.   Following a weekend trip to Oklahoma for two contests, the Cougars will join their women counterparts in their first doubleheader of the season in hosting 2014 nationally receiving votes Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa.

Having six contests under their belts, the Cougars begin conference play September 12 at Cowley College before beginning a two-game homestead.  Barton will host Pratt Community College September 15 before hosting Bethany College JV three days later.

Two road games follow before turning the page on the calendar for an October 3 date with the defending conference champions from Neosho County Community College.  One week later the Cougars travel the renewed men's soccer program at Garden City Community College prior to an October 15 date at Cloud County Community College.

Allen County Community College on October 17 will kick off a three-game homestand followed by a non-conference match three days later against MCC-Longview.  The home portion of the regular season concludes with Coffeyville Community College on October 20 as the Cougars look to avenge a 1-0 loss to end the 2014 season.  The Red Ravens went on to win the Region VI Championship advancing to the national tournament.  

Just like the Lady Cougars, the men will wind up the regular season October 26 at Kansas City Community College before turning attention to the Region VI playoffs.