#14 Otero College Rattlers Soccer Team Narrowly Defeated by #9 Barton

In a closely contested non-conference soccer match on September 26, 2025, the #14 Otero College Rattlers faced a tough challenge against #9 Barton at Garden City, KS. Despite taking an early lead, the Rattlers fell 2-1 to Barton by the final whistle.

The first half saw the Rattlers dominate early, leading to a goal by Manuel Ronaldo Mena, assisted skillfully by Prince-Ivan Nginyu. The morale was high as Otero College maintained their lead with a half-time score of 1-0. However, Barton made a strong comeback in the second half, equalizing with an own goal before securing their lead with a strike from Masaki Tsuji, assisted by Rafael Calmon. This goal eventually sealed the victory for Barton.

Despite the loss, noteworthy performances included Otero College's goalie, Ivan Dorado Madera, who put up a strong defense throughout the game. The team looks to rebound in their next match against Lamar CC on September 28, 2025, in Lamar, CO. Currently, the Rattlers hold a season record of 6-3-1, with an unblemished 5-0 record in conference play, highlighting their strong potential despite this setback.