DRAGONS EARN KEY JAYHAWK WEST WIN VS. BARTON

Chavelle Henry sprints by two Barton defenders on her way to scoring Hutchinson's second goal in the first half Wednesday night at Don Michael Field. The Blue Dragons defeated the Cougars 2-0. (Nathan Addis/Blue Dragon Sports Information) — Esther Karhayu sprints by two Barton defenders on her way to scoring Hutchinson's first goal in the first half Wednesday night at Don Michael Field. The Blue Dragons defeated the Cougars 2-0. (Nathan Addis/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

October 2, 2019

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The Hutchinson Community College women's soccer team picked up a key three points in the Jayhawk West and earned a season sweep of the Barton Cougars on Wednesday at Don Michael Field.

Knowing they have to win out to have a shot at a share of the Jayhawk West title, the Blue Dragons scored two first-half goals and made it stand up for a 2-0 league win over Barton.

The game was moved to the turf of Don Michael Field after rain made the new natural grass surface of the Salthawk Sports Complex not ready to use on Wednesday.

Wednesday night's game was very similar to the first matchup on Sept. 7 at Great Bend. Then, Hutch scored two first-half goals and then played very tight defense in the second half to earn the win.

Hutch scored two first-half goals within 3 minutes of each other on Wednesday. Then similar to four weeks ago, the Blue Dragons played staunch defense in the second half to record their eighth shutout of the season.

The Blue Dragons took a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute when Esther Karhayu slammed a low shot past Barton keeper Itzel Diaz. Karhayu scored her ninth goal of the season with an assist from Samantha Vaughn.

Three minutes later, the Blue Dragons scored one of their best goals of the season.

Hutchinson goalkeeper Chiara Soergel smashed a long punt that sophomore Macy Smith got under. She flicked a perfect header to Chavelle Henry in fill stride at top speed. The made a run with two Barton defenders at her side and beat Diaz to make to 2-0 Blue Dragons with 12:25 to play in the first half.

Smith had the primary assist, but Soergel had the secondary assist, making her the first Blue Dragon goalkeeper to register an assist since Bailey Shupe on September 13, 2013 against Neosho County.

The second half was played tight defensively. The back line of Jenna Boese, Bailey Flowers, Cheyenne Busker, Syeria Matthias and Angela Rader never let the Cougars get any quality scoring chances throughout the game.

Barton out-shot Hutch 13-12 overall and 8-1 in the second half.

Soergel finished with eight saves for the Blue Dragons to improve to 8-2. Diaz took the loss for the Cougars. She had seven saves.

The Blue Dragons will play host to Garden City at 6 p.m. on Saturday at the Salthawk Sports Complex.