Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Hutchinson Community College women's soccer head coach is a soccer purist – he says the game should always be played on grass.

The Salthawk Sports Complex, Hutchinson's home since the program's inception in 2005, has always been grass. A new surface was put down over the summer, but concerns that the root system wasn't strong enough yet meant the Blue Dragons had to play their first three games on the FieldTurf at Hutchinson High's Don Michael Field.

That changes Saturday night as Hutchinson plays host to Hesston College in a 6 p.m. kickoff on the new pitch of the Salthawk Sports Complex.

With construction will being done around the complex, no fans will be allowed to sit on the bench sides of the field. Seating on the bleacher side has doubled from last year, so all fans are encouraged to sit in or near the bleachers on the east side of the field.

The 4-1 Blue Dragons enter Saturday's game with Hesston after a 2-0 road victory on Wednesday at Garden City, a game played in 35 mph wind on a very fast artificial turf surface. The Dragons have four shutouts in five games this year and have a 21-1 advantage in goals scored.

Freshman Samantha Vaughn has a team-high five goals. Esther Karhayu has four goals. Hutchinson has had eight different goal scorers this season. Marah Franke has a team-high five assists with Naomi Waithira and Macy Smith with three assists each.

Freshman goalkeeper has allowed just one goal and has 15 saves and a .938 save percentage. She is 4-1 with four shutouts.

It's been a tough start for the Larks this season with losses to Northeastern Junior College, Cloud County and Barton by a collective score of 20-1.

Last season, the Blue Dragons swept Hesston, winning 4-1 at Hesston and 6-0 in a game played at Buhler High School because the Salthawk Sports Complex was under water after heavy rains in the days preceding the game.