Balanced attack, shutout highlight No. 7 Cougars' conference opening win at Seward #GoBarton

The No. 7 Barton Community College men's soccer team controlled both ends of the pitch Wednesday night in Liberal, scoring twice in each half while recording a 4-0 shutout road victory over Seward County Community College.

Winners of two straight, the Cougars move to 3-1-1 overall and open Jayhawk Conference play at 1-0-0. The Saints meanwhile, suffered their first blemish of the season, falling to 2-1-0 overall and 0-1-0 in league action.

Barton will have the weekend off before resuming conference play next Wednesday against Garden City Community College. Due to ongoing construction at the Cougar Soccer Complex, the match will be played at the FHSU Soccer Stadium in Hays, KS.

Reigning KJCCC and National Player of the Week Masaki Tsuji opened the scoring in the 9th minute, dribbling through traffic before blasting a far post finish from 10 yards out for his fifth goal of the season.

Barton doubled the advantage 25 minutes later as Dahman Zucchini netted his second of the year, finishing off Luca Madiai's pass that slipped past the Saints' defenders.

The Cougars struck again in the 63rd minute, capitalizing on a set piece when Diogo Gimenez put away Tsuji's corner to make it 3-0. Barton sealed the victory in the final minute as freshman Luan Cony tallied his first collegiate goal, finishing a give-and-go with Angel Sainz.

Backed by an eight-shot advantage, Barton's back line stifled the Saints to just four shots. In net, Gabriel Bergamin and Keagan Lewis each contributed to the clean sheet, combining for a save apiece.

SCORING SUMMARY
8:30: Masaki Tsuji (5)
35:17: Dahman Zucchini (2); Assist: Luca Madiai (1)
63:04: Diogo Gimenez (2); Masaki Tsuji (2)
89:29: Luan Cony (1); Angel Sainz (1)